How global collaboration is accelerating CommBank’s next wave of innovation

Through global partnerships and unique learning opportunities, CommBank is giving its teams a front-row seat to world-class innovation and the emerging technologies transforming the way we work.

With  initiatives like the Seattle Tech Hub and the bank’s expanded collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), CommBank engineers, product leaders and data specialists are gaining unique opportunities to develop skills, experiment with new tools and accelerate innovation at scale.

Recognising this momentum, AWS selected CommBank to share the story behind the partnership in its ‘Pull the Future Forward’ campaign, recognising the bank’s leadership in responsible AI, engineering excellence and human-led innovation.

Partnering to accelerate the pace of innovation

Collaborating with global technology leaders is helping CommBank experiment at scale. Through its collaboration with AWS, the bank is accessing advanced cloud and AI solutions that support faster delivery and greater resilience.

“Collaborating with world-class partners like AWS allows us to pair their global expertise with our deep insights and knowledge,” CommBank’s Chief Information Officer, Central Technology, Rodrigo Castillo says. “Together we’re exploring new ways to use GenAI, from empowering our teams to creating better solutions that help us improve customer experiences.”

These joint initiatives are supporting a stronger innovation pipeline and helping elevate engineering standards across the organisation.

Global immersion programs and hands-on learning opportunities

CommBank’s Seattle Tech Hub is giving teams hands-on learning opportunities inside one of the world’s most advanced technology ecosystems.

Over three-week immersions, engineers and product teams work alongside specialists in AI, cloud engineering and product development, gaining exposure to new ways of thinking and solving problems.

“One of the best things about the Seattle Tech Hub is the learning experience it creates for our people,” Castillo says. “They bring back new skills and momentum, applying those learnings to the complex challenges we’re trying to solve across the bank.”

Kartika Thamrin, Senior Product Owner, at CommBank says: “Being part of the Seattle Tech Hub has really broadened my perspective. It's not every day that you get to see and have a front row seat at the very cutting edge of technology, and being amongst all of these tech giants, really push the boundaries of our thinking.”

These experiences are helping teams speed up experimentation, improve delivery and strengthen collaboration across the organisation.

As the bank accelerates its investment in technology and innovation, these programs are helping shape a future-ready workforce and deliver better experiences for customers and communities across Australia.