For a generation of young Australians, traditional banking models are losing their lustre, and the financial sector is getting a digital shakedown. Whether you need a loan to buy livestock or help through medical school, peer-to-peer lender SocietyOne is offering a different solution.

Visiting your local bank branch feels like a very outdated way of dealing with your money. Bank of Queensland is ditching the teller lines and glass-windowed counters for a look that’s more akin to a coffee shop. Can this initiative help the bank build stronger relationships with its customers?

'Tis the season to be merry – if you're flush with cash, that is. With no budget in mind, and credit cards at the ready, Aussies are expected to be splashing out during the Christmas period. But while it might get people feeling festive, heavy debt and interest is set to follow in the new year.

The archetypal Australian afternoon is spent hanging out at the beach, maybe with a barbeque. But in reality, leisure time Down Under involves much more, with research suggesting that this nation spends more money on gambling than anywhere else in the world.