NAB ‘stress-tests’ 200,000 businesses as fuel costs surge

Fewer than 2% of calls to the business care team focused on fuel pressures.

National Australia Bank (NAB) said that it has reached out to almost 200,000 business customers since early March as fuel prices soared.

NAB bankers focused on sectors that included agriculture, transport, manufacturing, construction, and regional supply chain sectors, it said.

The majority of the customers contacted are not seeking financial difficulty assistance, NAB said.

Fewer than 2% of recent calls to the business care team had focused on fuel pressures, said Olivia Brosca,NAB Business Care executive.

The real pressure is on smaller businesses who haven’t been able to build a buffer, he said.

“Most customers report they are managing conditions, reflecting experience planning for seasonal and input-cost volatility,” NAB wrote in an April 2026 post.

Brosca said that they encouraged business customers experiencing pressure from rising fuel or operating costs to engage with their banker early so support could be tailored to their needs.