Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX:CBA) unit ASB Bank must pay a civil pecuniary penalty of NZ$6.7 million under a High Court ruling for seven breaches of anti-money laundering and terrorism financing rules, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand said Wednesday in a statement welcoming the decision.

The ruling marks the largest ever penalty imposed by a New Zealand court under the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009, the central bank said.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand launched proceedings against ASB in December 2025 after an investigation. It said ASB cooperated with the probe and admitted to all seven violations.

"Transaction monitoring is a key pillar to detect money laundering and terrorism financing," said Angus McGregor, the central bank's acting assistant governor financial stability. "It is incumbent on banks to ensure their systems and processes are robust and sufficiently recognize and mitigate these risks."

Commonwealth Bank of Australia did not immediately respond to a request for comment from MT Newswires.