Westpac Innovation and Coding Competition
Help redefine the way banking is experienced! Take part in the Westpac Hackathon coding competition, a collaboration between the Westpac Gold Coast Engineering Hub and Universities in Queensland.
Technology plays an important role in how banking is experienced now and in the future. Over 95% of customer interactions are now done through digital channels such as Mobile Banking App and Internet Banking. We're challenging participants to explore how Artificial Intelligence can transform banking and reshape the way customers interact with their bank.
In this open-world challenge, there is no prescribed solution, and we encourage you to think big, experiment and explore how AI can make banking simpler, smarter, safer and more intuitive. How can AI enhance the customer experience? How can intelligent technologies transform the way banks deliver products and services? Whether it’s AI-powered financial coaching, intelligent customer service, autonomous banking agents or personalised experiences, we encourage you to think outside the box and explore new possibilities for the future of banking.
Your challenge is to identify, innovate or improve an aspect of banking by developing a functional prototype or application. Your solution should be user-friendly, secure and demonstrate the potential for AI to disrupt and improve traditional banking services.
Important dates
- RSVP DEADLINE: 30 October 2026
- HACKATHON: 16-17 November 2026 (G23 Computer Labs at Gold Coast campus)
- AWARDS CEREMONY: 20 November 2026 (Westpac's Engineering Hub in Surfers Paradise)
Hackathon Handbook
Contains submission requirements, FAQs, mentor details and more.
Event information
To register:
Click the link here to complete the registration form
Don't worry if you are registering on your own - we can find you a team.
Judging criteria:
- Innovation (25%)
- Technical Excellence (10%)
- Creativity (25%)
- Feasibility (20%)
- Impact (20%)
Why participate?
By participating in the competition, you will be able to:
- build your networks,
- strengthen your entrepreneurial skills,
- work with participants outside your discipline,
- address a real problem worth solving, and
- have the chance to win a cash prize!
Prizes:
- First place: $2,500 grand prize for the best idea and solution
- Second place: $1,000 for creativity and innovation
- People's choice: Westpac prize pack
How it works
With support from mentors and experts, you will be challenged to identify ways to innovate and improve one or more aspects of the banking experience for customers by developing a functional prototype or application. Your solution should be user-friendly, secure, and demonstrate the potential to disrupt traditional banking services.
The hackathon will be conducted in-person at Griffith University's Gold Coast campus and on participating university campuses.
Shortlisted teams will get invited to the Awards Day to present their submissions in person on 20 November 2026 at the Westpac Gold Coast Engineering Hub.
Resources
Participants are encouraged to use the tools they are familiar with to build and host their solutions. If you’re looking for other tools and services to help build your project, there are several ways to get free access to a number of them, especially with your student email.
