A survey shows that almost one third of Australian bank employees are worried about their customers' ability to repay loans while half admitted they are pressured to force on customers for more credit even when they were not requested.

According to the figures released by the Finance Sector Union, at least 29 per cent of employees are uncomfortable about their customer's ability to meet their financial obligations on debt products.

Another 41 per cent are “under pressure” to sell its debt products despite that customers do not request for them and may not be able to afford them.

The survey from bank tellers and workers follow after the Australian mortgage debt for owner-occupied housing ballooned to $744 billion in April while debt investment purchases reached $330 billion. Personal loans also peaked at $141 billion in the same month.

The data was released by the Reserve Bank.

''This constant pressure that sales targets put on bank workers is why we are calling for the selling of credit and financial products to be decoupled from remuneration outcomes,'' said Acting FSU National Secretary, Wendy Streets.

''The remuneration practices of banks are recognised as one of the major reasons for the global financial crisis.''

Standard & Poor, a credit rating agency, warned that Australia may become similar to the US during the financial crisis as the country's debt record will put borrowers to a greater shock if interest rates or jobless rates do increase.

Also in the survey, at least 60 per cent of bank employees answered that selling debt to customers are prioritized since sales target goes up.

Westpac-owned St. George got 75 per cent of workers who reported on debt selling while 64 per cent of ANZ workers noted an increase in debt selling.

Both banks were not available for comments.

The FSU survey includes 1360 customers and union members from April 12 to April 28.