Best brokers and banks for Australia residents — regulated, verified and ranked for 2026.
Australia has its own regulated financial market. The primary stock exchange is the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).
Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) regulates the securities and investment sector in Australia. All investment platforms listed on WhichBrokr for Australia are either licensed by ASIC or operate under an internationally recognised regulatory framework.
APRA was established in 1998 following the Wallis Financial System Inquiry. Australia's four major banks (ANZ, CommBank, NAB, Westpac) are among the world's best-capitalised institutions. ASIC handles conduct regulation. Deposit protection: AUD $250,000 per depositor per ADI under the government guarantee.
Australia has no flat capital gains tax rate. Instead, individuals receive a 50% CGT discount on assets held for more than 12 months — you include only half the gain in your taxable income and pay your marginal rate on that amount. Dividends are subject to Australia's dividend imputation (franking credits) system: company tax paid (30%) is credited against your personal tax liability, meaning fully franked dividends can be tax-free or generate a refund for lower-income investors. The primary tax-advantaged investment structure is superannuation — contributions are taxed at 15% (concessional) and capital gains within super are taxed at just 10% for assets held over 12 months.
Bank deposits in Australia are protected up to AUD 250,000 per ADI (Financial Claims Scheme) per depositor per institution.