And now a guest post from our Senior Business Correspondent Peter Ryan, who has been covering NAB’s results today and sat down for a one on one interview with Andrew Irvine:

The newly-appointed head of the National Australia Bank has called out violence against women and says while major steps have been made to stamp out financial abuse … more needs to be done.

Releasing his first set of financial results as NAB chief executive, Andrew Irvine also said more borrowers and renters pressured from the rising cost of living are seeking help from welfare agencies.

But Mr Irvine described the crisis over violence against women as “an important national conversation”.

“I abhor violence, I abhor violence against women. We have a zero tolerance for violence, we’ve spent a fair bit of time investing in technology solutions and training for our colleagues, so that they are better able to identify potential cases of abuse and or violence, particularly in intimate relationships, be it an intimate partner, or a family member.”

The NAB says it blocks 1,500 abusive text messages per month and has powers to suspend or deny banking products to perpetrators.

“But this is tough,” Mr Irvine says.

“I think it’s incumbent on all of us to be doing more here and I think the measures announced recently by the federal government are really helpful.

“What I would also suggest is that if there are any NAB customers out there that are struggling or having are being a victim of abuse, that they please call us so we can help them.”