CommSec

The brokerage arm started operations in 1995 and launched its share trading website in 1997.{{cite web |url=http://www.alexa.com/data/details/main/comsec.com.au |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230506042156/https://www.alexa.com/data/details/main/comsec.com.au |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 May 2023 |title=Site Description for commsec.com.au |publisher=Alexa.com |accessdate=4 December 2011 }}{{cite web |url=http://richardlees.com.au/Documents/Intel_Microsoft_Commsec_final_june2006.pdf |title=Investment in 64-bit Intel ® Itanium 2 servers pays returns for CommSec |publisher=Intel® and Microsoft® |accessdate=4 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005174120/http://richardlees.com.au/Documents/Intel_Microsoft_Commsec_final_june2006.pdf |archivedate=5 October 2011}}

CommSec initially offered only Australian equities trades, but has since expanded into derivative products, international equities, managed funds, self-managed super fund (SMSF) administration, contracts-for-difference (CFDs), margin lending and short-term deposits. The firm's large retail customer base has also allowed it to successfully market a number of initial public offering (IPO) fund raisings.

In 2008 CommSec became the first Australian brokerage firm to offer a brokerage website specifically designed for a portable-device.{{cite web|last=Tung |first=Liam |url=http://www.cnet.com.au/mobilephones/phones/0,239025953,339290515,00.htm?feed=pt_log |title=CommSec launches iPhone trading app |publisher=Cnet Australia |date=11 July 2008 |accessdate=4 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213225925/http://www.cnet.com.au/commsec-launches-iphone-trading-app-339290515.htm |archive-date= Feb 13, 2012 }} It created CommSec iPhone Edition for the Apple iPhone, the first home-grown iPhone application in Australia. In 2008 the broker disbanded its Share Shops (face-to-face operations) closing the front in the Commonwealth Bank branch in Pitt Street, Sydney, following the earlier closure of the Melbourne Share Shop in Collins Street.

CommSec has retained and increased its already significant market share in retail broking through both CBA's acquisition of other banks and its own acquisition of other broking firms.{{cite web |url=http://www.investordaily.com.au/archive/IDD00037452.xml |title=CommSec snaps up direct funds firm |publisher=InvestorDaily |date=6 April 2006 |first1=Catherine |last1=James |accessdate=4 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091021120336/http://investordaily.com.au/archive/IDD00037452.xml |archivedate=21 October 2009}} CommSec now performs broking operations for Colonial First State,{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s133221.htm |work=PM |title=Commonwealth Bank takes over Colonial Mutual |publisher=ABC |location=Australia |date=31 May 2000 |accessdate=4 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326183233/http://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s133221.htm |archive-date= Mar 26, 2012 }} TD Waterhouse,{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/td-bank-selling-australian-discount-brokerage-operations-1.362217 |title=TD Bank selling Australian discount brokerage operations |publisher=CBC News Business |location=Canada |date=15 April 2003 |access-date=4 December 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113191038/http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2003/04/15/tdwaterhouse_030415.html |archive-date= Nov 13, 2012 }} AOT,{{cite web |url=http://www.commsec.com.au/Public/News.aspx?ID=594 |title=Faqs For Aot Options Clients |publisher=CommSec |date= 23 Jan 2005 |accessdate=4 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005174120/http://www.commsec.com.au/Public/News.aspx?ID=594 |archivedate=5 October 2011}} Neville Ward Direct,{{cite web |url=http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/729344/fromItemId/633054 |title=Commonwealth Securities Limited (Commsec) – acquisition of Neville Ward Direct Pty Limited |publisher=ACCC |date=19 April 2006 |accessdate=4 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926205559/http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/729344/fromItemId/633054 |archivedate=26 September 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://images.comsec.com.au/funds/ManagedFunds/Prospectus/PDFs/nwsandcommsecletter.pdf |title=Neville Ward Direct and CommSec – two strong teams united |date=29 March 2006 |publisher=Neville Ward Direct |accessdate=4 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005174120/http://images.comsec.com.au/funds/ManagedFunds/Prospectus/PDFs/nwsandcommsecletter.pdf |archivedate=5 October 2011}} Auckland Savings Bank (ASB),{{cite web|url=http://www.commbankuk.co.uk/moving_to_new_zealand/ |title=Moving to New Zealand |publisher=Commonwealth Bank Group UK |accessdate=4 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814160813/http://www.commbankuk.co.uk/moving_to_new_zealand/ |archive-date= Aug 14, 2007 }} and IWL (Westpac Broking, Sanford and Avcol).{{cite web |url=http://www.investordaily.com.au/3630.htm |title=CommSec takes over Sanford clients |publisher=InvestorDaily |first1= Kate |last1=Kachor |date=19 Dec 2007 |accessdate=4 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303083602/http://investordaily.com.au/3630.htm |archivedate=3 March 2011}} The acquisition of IWL in 2007 gave CommSec significant market share in wholesale broking to complement its existing retail presence.{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22173877-664,00.html |title=Commsec unfazed in IWL purchase |publisher=News.com.au |date=2 August 2007 |accessdate=4 December 2011}}

In 2008 CommSec diversified into the short term deposit sector with the introduction of its Cash Management product.[https://archive.today/20121230102845/http://www.investordaily.com.au/cps/rde/xchg/id/style/4482.htm?rdeCOQ=SID-3F579BCE-2210FDA3 Better cash management from CommSec] The product consists of two distinct accounts the CommSec Cash Account (CCA) and the CommSec Investment Account (CIA). The CCA is the source of funds for stock trading and also an everyday transaction account, with a linked debit Mastercard. The CIA earns interest and cash can only be transferred to and from the CCA.

In December 2012, CommSec announced plans to replace CCA and CIA accounts with a Commonwealth Direct Investment Account (CDIA), which is a settlement account that earns interest.{{cite web |url=https://www.commsec.com.au/products/cash-investment-account.html |title=Your cash account for trading |publisher=CommSec |accessdate=30 June 2015}}

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Category:Australian companies established in 1995

Category:Online brokerages

Category:Financial services companies based in Sydney

Category:Online financial services companies of Australia

Category:Investment companies of Australia

Category:Commonwealth Bank