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Assets under custody in Australia continue to grow in Dec half, hitting record high of $6.2 tril

Sun, 3 May 2026 15:00:00 GMT

New data from the Australian Custodial Services Association (ACSA), the peak industry body for custodians and asset service providers in Australia, revealed an 8.6 per cent rise in assets under custody in the six months to 31 December 2025.

While volatility remained markets maintained positive momentum in the second half of calendar 2025, with assets under custody reaching a record high of $6.2 trillion by the end of December.

Source: Australian Custodial Services Association, full breakdown available at https://acsa.com.au/page/IndustryStatistics

Individual custodians fared differently throughout the period due to industry consolidation, continued movement in custody assets and market growth. ACSA notes that after many years of outstanding industry support, NAB Asset Servicing no longer reports custody data to ACSA.

Australian investors increased their allocation to overseas assets by 6.9 per cent to $2.25 trillion during the half, with Australian-domiciled investments increasing 9.5 per cent to $3.94 trillion. Assets held in Australia on behalf of offshore investors (sub-custody assets) increased by 10.5 per cent to $2.76 trillion.

Asset servicing providers in Australia managed $7.2 trillion as at 31 December 2025 - up 7.2 per cent.* They also settled over 14.1 million trades in the six-month period, an increase of 7.9 per cent compared to the previous period. On average, ACSA members settled approximately 115,000 trades per day on behalf of clients.

*Note: 30 June 2025 total restarted to $6.39 trillion due to a change in respondents’ statistical returns

ACSA Chief Executive Officer David Travers said the association remains engaged in responding to ongoing market and regulatory change over the past six months.

“In the December half, total asset levels reported by ACSA grew, market consolidation and client transitions resulted in changes to individual custodians’ reported assets under custody and administration, and offshore allocations to Australia continued to rise as investors took advantage of investment opportunities and ongoing market momentum.

“ACSA and its members remain focused on responding to regulatory changes and evolving market frameworks, including the continued support for the ASX CHESS replacement program, and implementation of regulatory measures such as Operational Resiliency. We have also maintained a strong focus on thought leadership and member development.

“Innovation, regulatory change, industry engagement, and best practice remain a critical focus for driving efficiency in custody and investment administration. Through our working groups and dedicated industry volunteers, ACSA remains well placed to address the opportunities and challenges in the year ahead,” Mr Travers said.

A full copy of the ACSA data for the December 2025 can be found at: https://acsa.com.au/page/IndustryStatistics.

For more information, visit ACSA’s website.

Media enquiries
Nick Owens
Sefiani Communications Group
0421 977 062
nowens@sefiani.com.au

About the Australian Custodial Services Association (ACSA)

The Australian Custodial Services Association (ACSA) is the peak industry body representing members of Australia’s custodial and investment administration sector. ACSA was established in 1994 with the mission of promoting systemic efficiency and international best practice for members, clients, and the market. ACSA works with peer associations, regulators, and other market participants on a pre-competitive basis to encourage standards, process consistency, market reform and operating efficiency.

Special Edition: ACSA 30 Year Celebration Gala Dinner

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:07:00 GMT

ACSA 30 Year Celebration Gala Dinner

The Australian Custodial Services Association’s 30 Year Celebration Gala Dinner was a landmark occasion—bringing together industry leaders, past and present contributors, partners and friends to reflect on three decades of progress and to look confidently toward the future of custody and investment services in Australia.

Hosted by Effie Zahos, the evening marked a proud milestone for ACSA and the broader custody and investment services community. It was both a celebration of the association’s origins, achievements and the role custodians will continue to play at the centre of the Australian financial system.

From Back Office to Strategic Partner

A central theme of the night was the extraordinary evolution of the custody industry itself. Custodians have moved far beyond traditional back office functions to become strategic partners embedded within the investment ecosystem.

ACSA’s leadership throughout this transformation has ensured the industry remains adaptable, informed and prepared for what comes next.

Recognising Excellence: Industry Awards

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of ACSA Industry Recognition and Awards, celebrating individuals whose leadership, expertise and service have made a lasting contribution to the industry.

ACSA Awards were presented to:

Alvin Chia (Northern Trust)
Tina Rathjen (J.P. Morgan)
Nathan Kessey (KPMG)
Jo McMahon (J.P. Morgan)

ACSA Award Winners:
(L-R is as per above with ACSA Chair Sally Surgeon)

Each recipient was recognised for their outstanding contribution to custody and investment services and their commitment to advancing industry standards and collaboration.

Service to Industry Award

The Service to Industry Award was presented to Lisa Simmons (Retired – Ashurst) in recognition of her long-standing dedication and impact across the sector.

ACSA Chair Award The prestigious ACSA Chair Award was awarded to Jodie Bosler (State Street), acknowledging exceptional leadership, service and contribution to the association and the broader industry.

These awards underscored the depth of talent and commitment that continues to drive the success of custody services in Australia.

With Thanks to Our Community

The success of the Gala Dinner was made possible by the support of ACSA’s members, volunteers and sponsors.

Special thanks were extended to the Gala Dinner organising committee and event sponsors whose support ensured the evening was both memorable and meaningful.

Celebrating the Past, Shaping the Future Together

One message resonated clearly from the evening: while the Gala Dinner celebrated 30 years of achievement, it also marked the beginning of ACSA’s next chapter. The challenges and opportunities ahead are significant—but so too is the strength of the community that stands behind ACSA.
Together, ACSA and its members will continue to shape the future of custody and investment services—building on a legacy of collaboration, innovation and trust.

Event Gallery

Check out the gallery of photos and videos from the evening below.

Professional Pics Photobooth

Nominations are now open for ACSA Awards 2025

Thu, 8 Jan 2026 16:58:00 GMT

Nominations are now open for ACSA Awards 2025
The ACSA Awards recognise outstanding individual contribution to the Association, wider industry and key stakeholders. For over 10 years these coveted Awards have showcased outstanding individuals and the value they bring to industry collaboration and focus on positive change.

Eligibility
Any person who makes a significant contribution to the industry and Association is eligible.

Nomination Process
Nominations should be made by completing the Nomination Form which can be found here and returned no later than 30 January 2026 via email to:

Kate Dent
ACSA Executive
admin@acsa.com.au

Nominations must include details of the individual’s specific contribution (see instructions regarding the citation).
Full details of the process and the Roll of Honour of past recipients can be viewed here.

Award Presentation
Recipients will be notified by early February, and the Awards will be presented ACSA’s first members event for 2026 to be held concurrently in Sydney and Melbourne.

For more details, please refer to the Nomination Form.

Also feel free to contact us should you require additional information.

ACSA Paper marking 30 years of operations charts evolving role of custodial servicing industry

Thu, 4 Dec 2025 15:30:00 GMT

Future custodian seen as “platform, partner, pioneer”

The peak body for custodial services providers, the Australian Custodial Services Association (ACSA) today launched a forward-looking white paper setting out the changing role - and future expectations - of custodians within the financial services ecosystem.

The release of the paper - The New Custodian: Platform, Pioneer, Partner - coincides with the 30th anniversary of ACSA’s founding in 1995.

Informed by senior leaders of ACSA member organisations including BNP Paribas, Citi, Clearstream, HSBC, J.P. Morgan, Northern Trust and State Street, the paper charts the transformation of Australia’s custody and investment servicing industry in recent decades and a bold future vision for the industry.

Among highlights from the paper:

Australian custodians oversaw A$5.6 trillion in assets under custody and A$6.6 trillion under administration as at June 2025, operating across more than 100 markets and processing over 12.5 million trades annually.

Custodians have evolved from back-office operators to indispensable strategic partners, and have become deeply embedded in clients’ operating models and front-office decision making.

Clients are demanding far broader services – from middle-office outsourcing and liquidity management to advanced data analytics, AI-driven insights and private markets administration.

The industry is leading innovation driven by digital assets, tokenisation, distributed ledger technology (DLT), Artificial intelligence (AI) and the explosive growth of alternate and private assets.

By 2030, up to 10% of global market turnover is expected to involve digital assets and tokenised securities, with custodians playing a pivotal role in building safe, scalable infrastructure.

The traditional term “custodian” is becoming outdated; many providers now describe themselves as “investment servicing platforms” or “asset servicing and markets partners”, reflecting a blurring of lines between client and provider teams.

ACSA Chair Sally Surgeon said: “Over the past three decades, custodians have become the trusted backbone of Australia’s world-class superannuation and investment ecosystem. As we look to the future, our members are not just adapting to change – they are pioneering the platforms, partnerships and innovations that will define the next era of investment services.”

ACSA CEO David Travers added: “Technology, data and client expectations are moving at unprecedented speed. This paper makes clear that the custodians of tomorrow will deliver real-time insights, seamless digital experiences and leadership in emerging asset classes – all while safeguarding assets and maintaining the resilience that regulators and clients rightly demand.

“The Australian custodial services industry has proved highly adaptable over the last 30 years and is well placed. The combination of technological advancement, industry collaboration), and a focus on client outcomes will help ensure Australian custodians remain global leaders in a rapidly digitising financial landscape,” he said.

The full paper is available to download here.

Media enquiries: Stephen Mesa, Sefiani Communications Group on +61 424 383 249 or smesa@sefiani.com.au

Assets under custody in Australia continue to grow in June half, hitting record high of $5.6T

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 05:00:00 GMT

New data from the Australian Custodial Services Association (ACSA), the peak industry body for custodians and asset service providers in Australia, revealed a 2.9 per cent rise in assets under custody in the six months to 30 June 2025.

Markets maintained positive momentum through periods of volatility in the first half of calendar 2025, with assets under custody reaching a record high of $5.6 trillion in June. The new milestone comes as ACSA celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2025.

Individual custodians fared differently throughout the period due to industry consolidation, continued movement in custody assets and market growth.

Australian investors increased their allocation to overseas assets by 0.7 per cent to $1.99 trillion during the half, with Australian-domiciled investments increasing 2.2 per cent to $3.59 trillion. Assets held in Australia on behalf of offshore investors (sub-custody assets) increased by 8.3 per cent to $2.5 trillion.

Asset- servicing providers in Australia managed $6.32 trillion as at 30 June 2025 - up 2.7 per cent. They also settled over 13.19 million trades in the six-month period, an increase of 4.7 per cent compared to the previous period. On average, ACSA members settled approximately 100,000 trades per day on behalf of clients.

ACSA Chief Executive Officer David Travers said the association was active in responding to ongoing market and regulatory change over the past six months

“In the June half, offshore allocations to Australia continued to rise as investors took advantage of investment opportunities and ongoing market momentum. Locally, while total asset levels reported by ACSA saw growth, market consolidation and client transitions have resulted in changes to individual custodians’ reported assets under custody and administration."

Read the Media Release in full here.

A full copy of the ACSA data for June 2025 can be found at: https://acsa.com.au/page/IndustryStatistics

Media enquiries
Nick Owens
Sefiani Communications Group
0421 977 062
nowens@sefiani.com.au

About the Australian Custodial Services Association (ACSA)

The Australian Custodial Services Association (ACSA) is the peak industry body representing members of Australia’s custodial and investment administration sector. ACSA was established in 1994 with the mission of promoting systemic efficiency and international best practice for members, clients, and the market. ACSA works with peer associations, regulators, and other market participants on a pre-competitive basis to encourage standards, process consistency, market reform and operating efficiency

Assets under custody in Australia rise by 8.0% in December half, hitting record high of $5.4T

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 13:49:00 GMT

New data from the Australian Custodial Services Association (ACSA), the peak industry body for custodians and asset service providers in Australia, revealed an 8.0 per cent rise in assets under custody in the six months to 31 December 2024.

Markets maintained strong momentum in the second half of 2024, with assets under custody reaching a record high of $5.44 trillion in December. The milestone comes as ACSA celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2025.

Individual custodians fared differently throughout the period due to industry consolidation, continued movement in custody assets and strong market growth.

Australian investors increased their allocation to overseas assets by 11.8 per cent to $1.98 trillion during the half, with Australian-domiciled investments increasing 4.3 per cent to $3.41 trillion. Assets held in Australia on behalf of offshore investors (sub-custody assets) increased by 6.3 per cent to $2.3 trillion.

For the first time, asset servicing providers in Australia managed over $6 million assets under administration, reaching $6.16 trillion as at 31 December 2024 - up 5.6 per cent. They also settled 12.5 million trades in the six-month period, an increase of 9.6 per cent compared to the previous period. On average, ACSA members settled approximately 95,950 trades per day on behalf of clients.

ACSA Chief Executive Officer David Travers said the association has remained active in responding to ongoing market and regulatory change over the past six months

“In the December half, investors continued to increase their offshore allocations to take advantage of investment opportunities and ongoing market momentum. Locally, while total asset levels reported by ACSA saw positive growth, market consolidation and client transitions have resulted in changes to individual custodians’ reported assets under custody and administration.

“ACSA and its members remain focused on responding to regulatory changes and evolving market frameworks, including the global moves toward T+1, continued support for the ASX CHESS replacement program, and local discussions on T+1. We have also maintained a strong focus on thought leadership and member development.

“Innovation, industry engagement, and best practice solutions remain a critical focus for driving efficiency in custody and investment administration. Through our working groups and dedicated industry volunteers, ACSA remains well placed to address the opportunities and challenges in the year ahead,” Mr Travers said.

A full copy of the ACSA data for the December 2024 can be found at: https://acsa.com.au/page/IndustryStatistics

Media enquiries
Nick Owens
Sefiani Communications Group
0421 977 062
nowens@sefiani.com.au

About the Australian Custodial Services Association (ACSA)

The Australian Custodial Services Association (ACSA) is the peak industry body representing members of Australia’s custodial and investment administration sector. ACSA was established in 1994 with the mission of promoting systemic efficiency and international best practice for members, clients, and the market. ACSA works with peer associations, regulators, and other market participants on a pre-competitive basis to encourage standards, process consistency, market reform and operating efficiency

Assets under custody in Australia rise by 5.7% in June half,  surpassing $5 trillion for first time

Mon, 12 Aug 2024 05:00:00 GMT

Data released today by the Australian Custodial Services Association (ACSA), the peak industry body for custodians and asset service providers in Australia, revealed a 5.7% rise in assets under custody to $5.04 trillion in the six months to 30 June 2024.

Source: Australian Custodial Services Association. Full breakdown available at https://acsa.com.au/page/IndustryStatistics

Markets demonstrated strong momentum in the first half of 2024, with assets under custody in June 2024 surpassing $5 trillion for the first time.

Individual custodians fared differently throughout the period due to increased movements in custody assets within the industry (for more details visit ACSA’s website).

According to the latest ACSA data, Australian investors increased their allocation to overseas assets during the period by 11.4% to $1.8 trillion during the half, with Australian-domiciled investments increasing 3.0% to $3.2 trillion. Assets held in Australia on behalf of offshore investors (sub-custody assets) increased by 4.4% to $2.2 trillion.

Asset servicing providers in Australia had $5.8 trillion in assets under administration as at 30 June 2024, up 7.1%, and settled 11.4 million trades in the six months, a decrease of 2% compared to the previous six months. ACSA members, on average, settled approximately 87,500 trades per day on behalf of clients.

ACSA Chief Executive Officer David Travers said that in the past six months ACSA has been active in response to significant market and regulatory change.

“In the June half investors increased their allocation to offshore investments to take advantage of investment opportunities and momentum building in offshore markets. Locally, there has been greater stability in the asset levels reported by ACSA with relatively small changes in assets under custody, although there was a moderate uplift in assets under administration,“ Mr Travers said.

“ACSA and its members remain focused on their response to regulatory change and evolving changes to market frameworks, such as global moves toward T+1, continued support for the ASX on CHESS and its replacement program, and local discussions on T+1.

“Innovation, industry engagement and best practice solutions remain a critical focus for achieving efficiency in custody and investment administration. ACSA remains well placed to address the opportunities and challenges in the coming year through our working groups and dedicated industry volunteers,” Mr Travers said.

A full copy of the ACSA data for the June 2024 can be found at: https://acsa.com.au/page/IndustryStatistics

Media enquiries
Nick Owens
Sefiani Communications Group
0421 977 062
nowens@sefiani.com.au

About the Australian Custodial Services Association (ACSA)

The Australian Custodial Services Association (ACSA) is the peak industry body representing members of Australia’s custodial and investment administration sector. ACSA was established in 1994 with the mission of promoting systemic efficiency and international best practice for members, clients, and the market. ACSA works with peer associations, regulators, and other market participants on a pre-competitive basis to encourage standards, process consistency, market reform and operating efficiency.

Assets under custody in Australia rise by 2% in Dec half to $4.5 trillion

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 21:39:00 GMT

Data released today by the Australian Custodial Services Association (ACSA), the peak industry body for custodians and asset service providers in Australia, revealed a 1.9% rise in assets under custody to $4.5 trillion in the six months to 31 December 2023.

Source: Australian Custodial Services Association, full breakdown available at https://acsa.com.au/page/IndustryStatistics

Markets demonstrated increased stability in the second half of 2023, with assets under custody in December 2023 maintaining a gradual increase from the June reporting period. Individual custodians experienced different performance outcomes throughout the year due to increased custody asset movements within the industry (for more details visit ACSA’s website).

According to the latest ACSA data, Australian investors increased their allocation to overseas assets during the period by 5.1% to $1.6 trillion, with Australian-domiciled investments remaining stable at $2.9 trillion. Assets held in Australia on behalf of offshore investors (subcustody assets) increased by 5.6% to exceed $2 trillion.

Asset servicing providers in Australia had $5.4 trillion in assets under administration as at 31 December 2023, up 3.0%, and settled 11.6 million trades in the six-month period, an increase of 1% over the previous six months. ACSA members, on average, settled approximately 89,250 trades per day on behalf of clients.

ACSA Chief Executive Officer David Travers said that the past six months ACSA has maintained its momentum, driven by significant market and regulatory change.

A full copy of the statistics can be found here.

Read the media release in full here.

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Media enquiries
Kate Skokan
Sefiani Communications Group
0433 782 494
kskokan@sefiani.com.au

Cyber Roundtable Whitepaper

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 21:08:00 GMT

ACSA urges superannuation, investment, and insurance sector leaders to fortify cybersecurity defences without delay

[5 DECEMBER 2023] A report released today by the Australian Custodial Services Industry Association (ACSA), the peak body for custodians and asset service providers in Australia, has reinforced the need for Superannuation and Investment companies to move quickly to address vulnerabilities in their cyber defences as the incidence and cost of cyber-attacks mount.

ACSA’s latest whitepaper, 'From vulnerability to resiliency: Insights on cyber, data, and information security in a time of uncertainty', analyses the escalating cybersecurity risks confronting the Superannuation and investment industries.

With ransomware events imposing an estimated annual cost of $2.59 billion on Australia's economy, the whitepaper urges the nation’s largest financial services providers to accelerate implementation of robust cybersecurity measures to protect core systems and data.

The report identifies critical risks based on recommendations from the ACSA's Cyber Roundtable and risk management and cybersecurity leaders from major Australian financial institutions and globally systemically important banks (G-SIBs). It establishes best practices for Superannuation and Investment companies, unveiling the strategies employed by resilient firms and featuring insights from industry leaders such as State Street, Citigroup, Clearstream, J.P. Morgan, Northern Trust, HSBC, and NAB Asset Servicing.

As AI rapidly reshapes the cyber landscape, offering improved threat detection while also empowering cyber criminals with more sophisticated breach tools, the report argues leaders should adopt a multifaceted approach to combat cyber threats.

ACSA Chief Executive Officer David Travers said, "Cybersecurity is a frontline defence for our industry. With cyber threats continuing to surge, we can't afford complacency. The financial sector is at a critical juncture, particularly amid the AI revolution, and this whitepaper should serve as a resounding call to embrace best practice global insights to help navigate the headwinds to come.

"Cybersecurity is no longer optional but necessary for industry resilience and integrity. As we have seen this year with the highly publicised cyber breaches among Australian corporations, financial fallout is just the tip of the iceberg. Escalating debt and insurance costs, fractured customer relationships, operational turmoil, and the haemorrhaging of intellectual property are also repercussions of a cyber-attack or breach.

"In an increasingly threatened cyber environment, our research should be a rallying cry for sector leaders to fortify the resilience of our financial ecosystem. Boards and executives must champion a culture of cyber vigilance that permeates every layer. This goes beyond safeguarding balance sheets; it's about shoring up the bedrock of global financial markets."

The ACSA's report offers several recommendations to help business leaders enhance their cyber security and data privacy, including:

accountability for boards and the c-suite in managing cyber risks
ongoing education and training to foster vigilance and stay ahead of emerging threats and vulnerabilities
implementing strong cyber hygiene
greater use of AI-powered security tools coupled with promotion of ethical AI frameworks
adapting security measures as the landscape continues to evolve.

To learn more about ACSA's whitepaper, please visit the website here.