"the last of the old school bankers" - National Australia Bank chief executive Ross McEwan to retire with Andrew Irvine to take over

Five years ago, the National Australia Bank was in deep damage control after losing both its chief executive Andrew Thorburn and chairman Ken Henry who were forced to resign after the banking royal commission.

The board of Australia's second biggest bank turned to banking veteran Ross McEwan to rescue the NAB and to somehow restore it's smashed reputation.

Now Ross McEwan's time is up.

The 66 year old Melbourne-based New Zealander is retiring and making way for Andrew Irvine currently the head of the NAB's business and bank.

I spoke with both Mr McEwan and Mr Irvine after the announcement about about scams, cheques and the future of cash.

But I began with Ross McEwan about the early dark days after the Royal Commission.

LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW HERE

Here's my early take on Ross McEwan's retirement posted on ABC News Online shortly after the announcement.

Ross McEwan was almost the National Australia Banks accidential chief executive. 

He was recruited in late 2019 in the wake of the Banking Royal Commision which claimed the scalps of top NAB executive including his predecessor Andrew Thorburn and chairman Ken Henry. 

At the time of his appointment, Mr McEwan said there was no "silver bullet" to restore the NAB's reputation and credibility after the bank was smeared with allegations and evidence of shoddy banking practices.

But in his four years as CEO, Ross McEwan has worked to restore trust and to put a human face to banking.

He regularly toured regional Australia in the wake of devastating bushfire to provide confidence the NAB would stand by to assist business borrowers.

And he went interstate to gauge the impact of pandemic lockdowns across Australia where the economic impact of closed borders and staff shortages ravaged businesses big and small.

A one time head of retail banking at the Commonwealth Bank, Mr McEwan was overlooked to replace Ralph Norris as CEO - a role won by Ian Narev.

But in most ways, Mr McEwan dodged a bullet and Ian Narev was swept into managing scandal at the CBA's insurance arm CommInsure and later fallout from anti-money laundering and counter terror financing breaches.

Mr McEwan went on to be CEO at the Royal Bank of Scotland in the wake of the global financial crisis which saw the once prestigious bank bailed out by the British taxpayer.

Mr McEwan's reputation as a calm, straight speaking banker with high level crisis management credentials will be a hard act to follow for his successor Andrew Irvine as the NAB continues to go back to basics.