Westpac has rolled out Microsoft 365 Copilot across its global workforce, marking one of the largest Copilot deployments by an Australian company and the biggest within the financial services sector in the Asia Pacific.
The rollout provides more than 35,000 employees, along with contractors and service providers, access to an AI-powered assistant designed to boost productivity, streamline workflows, and enhance customer service. The move follows a successful pilot conducted last year with 15,000 Australian employees, which demonstrated improved business outcomes and significant time savings.
Commenting on the deployment, Westpac’s Chief Data, Digital and AI Officer, Andrew McMullan, described AI as a strategic enabler for the bank.
“AI is helping us work smarter and faster so our people can spend more time focused on delivering for our customers. Embedding AI at scale across the bank is an investment in our people, equipping them for success,” McMullan said.
He added that while AI is removing operational friction and enabling faster access to information, responsible use remains critical. “Technology alone isn’t the answer. AI has the strongest impact when paired with skilled people, strong values, and good judgment,” he noted.
To support adoption, Westpac is rolling out comprehensive AI education initiatives, including masterclasses, prompt-a-thons, and support resources. The bank has also introduced Copilot Studio, enabling its Technology, Data, and AI teams to build custom AI agents. Several agents are already live, including HR and IT assistants that can instantly respond to common employee queries and manage routine tasks.
In addition, Westpac has launched a dedicated innovation sandbox on Microsoft Azure to encourage experimentation and the development of new AI-driven solutions, spanning custom agents, workflow automation, and advanced analytics.
“Giving our teams access to these environments will accelerate innovation and encourage new ideas. AI will completely reshape how we work and eventually how customers engage with our products and services. The potential is enormous,” McMullan said.
Duncan Taylor, General Manager of Financial Services at Microsoft ANZ, said the deployment highlights Westpac’s leadership in responsible AI adoption at scale.
“This initiative will help Westpac employees be more efficient in their daily work and reduce digital overload. It also lays the foundation to scale innovation across the bank, creating value for employees, customers, and shareholders,” Taylor said. “This is a strong example of innovation with trust, and we’re proud to partner with Westpac on this journey.”
With the enterprise-wide rollout of Microsoft 365 Copilot, Westpac is positioning AI as a core capability to drive productivity, innovation, and long-term value across the organisation.
