BankWest is a full service bank based in Perth, Western Australia. BankWest is active in all market segments, and its lending is diversified between the business, rural, housing and personal markets, including the full range of deposit products. BankWest first opened its doors for business in 1895, as the Agricultural Bank of Western Australia. It was established by the Government of Western Australia to help develop the State's farming industry.

In the interstate markets, BankWest has promoted a selected range of products using cost-effective third party distribution channels, including finance brokers and affinity partnerships. BankWest’s interstate expansion is supported by offices in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. As at December 2003, the interstate markets account for 48.8 per cent of BankWest's total lending.

BankWest is a wholly owned subsidiary of HBOS plc, one of the world's largest financial services groups, with assets of about AUD$1,250 billion (£540 billion). Standard & Poors short-term credit rating for BankWest is "A-1+" and "AA-" for the long term, providing customers with investment grade security.