Financial Counselling Australia’s latest Rank the Banks, Other Lenders and Debt Collectors report has found that support for people in financial hardship remains inconsistent across the finance sector. The July 2026 report, prepared with financial counselling peak bodies and the Consumer Policy Research Centre, rates how banks, non-bank lenders and debt collectors respond to customers under financial pressure.
Why it matters: Small business owners often rely on personal credit, home loans, credit cards or alternative lenders to manage cash flow. When hardship processes are slow, inconsistent or difficult to access, financial stress can escalate quickly for sole traders and family businesses.
Who is affected: Business owners and operators with personal or business debts, especially those dealing with banks, finance companies, non-bank lenders or debt collectors.
Read more: Rank The Banks (and Other Lenders and Debt Collectors) Report 2026