---
title: "Financial difficulty decision note"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/precedents/banking-and-finance/financial-difficulty-decision-note"
type: "precedent"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "a3-financial-difficulty-decision-note"
area_id: "A3"
kind: "notice"
ai_level: "red"
version: 1
task_ids: ["A3-T20261018-38"]
law_stated_as_at: "2026-10-22"
---

# Financial difficulty decision note

> Note the bank gives in writing under paragraphs 184 and 185 of the 2025 Banking Code. The officer writes the decision and the reasons. The tool does not.

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/precedents/banking-and-finance/financial-difficulty-decision-note  
Law stated as at: 2026-10-22

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

## Key facts

- Kind: Notice. A formal notice to serve or publish.
- Practice area: [Banking & Finance](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/banking-and-finance.md)
- Jurisdictions: Australia
- AI level: Red. You write the text. The tool writes nothing into the document. Where permitted, it may check, clarify or collect data, and anything it checks or collects is verified.
- Law stated as at: 2026-10-22
- Status: Maintained. Checked on 2026-10-22 against the authority it cites, for Australia.

## When to use it

Use when a Code subscriber has decided whether to help a customer in financial difficulty and must say so in writing.

## Used for these tasks

- [Diarise and acknowledge a borrower's hardship notice](https://ailawframework.com/practice/banking-and-finance/diarise-and-acknowledge-a-borrower-s-hardship-notice.md)

## How AI may be used

The tool may insert the customer reference and the date of the decision from the working record, and the officer writes every sentence about the customer's circumstances and the reasons.

**AI may:**

- Insert the date and the customer reference the officer has already entered on the working record.

**AI must not:**

- Do not write the reasons, the description of the customer's situation, or the repayments.
- Do not say that a particular arrangement will be offered.
- Do not mention superannuation as something the customer must use.

**The lawyer checks:**

- Paragraph 184 requires the writing to say whether help is provided and the reasons.
- If the help changes the agreement, add the three paragraph 185 matters. Skip paragraph 185 for a minor deferral, refund or fee waiver.
- Send the note only after the officer has signed it.

## Authorities

- [Australian Banking Association, Banking Code of Practice (2025), paragraphs 184 and 185](https://www.ausbanking.org.au/banking-code/)

## Official form

[Official form](https://www.ausbanking.org.au/banking-code/)

## Full text and drafting notes

The full text and the drafting notes are not part of this public page. Signed-in firm accounts can read them at https://ailawframework.com/precedents/banking-and-finance/financial-difficulty-decision-note and through the signed-in MCP connector https://ailawframework.com/mcp/firm.

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*