BANKS AND BANKING – AUSTRALIA

Analysts warn on bank growth

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Original article by Cliona O’Dowd
The Australian – Page: 19 : 9-Jul-24

The share prices of Australia’s big four banks have risen strongly over the past 12 months, but Macquarie analysts have warned that the earnings outlook for the Commonwealth Bank, the ANZ, Westpac and the National Australia is weak. They note that the likelihood of there being a softer landing for the broader economy has diminished, and that extremely low impairment charges will hinder their earnings recovery in the medium term; Macquarie is underweight the banking sector over that period.

CORPORATES
COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG

Defying gravity: CBA prepares to take on Wall Street’s biggest banks

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Original article by Eric Johnston
The Australian – Page: 13 & 21 : 2-Jul-24

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia is now the world’s 13th largest bank in terms of market capitalisation. CBA now boasts a market cap of $211bn ($US140.7bn), ranking it above global rivals such as Citi; it is also within reach of making the list of the world’s 10 biggest banks. The rise of CBA is particularly impressive given that it remains largely focused on the Australian market, with its international operations limited to a small subsidiary in New Zealand. It is also not regarded as a globally systemically important bank, which is generally a prerequisite for ranking amongst the 10 biggest banks.

CORPORATES
COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA

Bendigo Bank, Bankwest & ING home loan customers are the most satisfied with their bank after two years of interest rate rises

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 15-May-24

New financial data from Roy Morgan’s Single Source shows that Bendigo Bank has topped the banking customer satisfaction ratings among home loan customers in early 2024. Bendigo Bank’s home loan customer satisfaction is a market leading 87.7% in March. In second place was Bankwest with customer satisfaction among home loan customers at 86.6%. Filling out the top four banks are ING on 84.6% and Macquarie on 79.9%. The latest data covers the six months to March 2024, and overall home loan customer satisfaction amongst Australia’s top banks collectively was at 74.9% during this period. This represents a collective decrease of 1.1% points from a year ago. CBA had the highest home loan customer satisfaction among the big four banks, with a rating of 76.1% in March. Average home loan customer satisfaction with the big four banks as a group was 72.7%.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, BENDIGO BANK, BANKWEST, ING BANK (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, MACQUARIE BANK LIMITED – ASX MBL, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA

CBA skimps on interest, makes an extra $1.7b

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Original article by James Eyers
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 12 : 10-Apr-24

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia disclosed in its half-year financial results that it held $825bn worth of deposits in December, including $284bn in savings accounts. Victor German from Macquarie believes that unlike rival banks, a higher proportion of CBA customers use higher-margin online saving accounts rather than bonus saver accounts. Online accounts initially pay a higher interest rate, but the ongoing base rate is typically much lower than the rates offered with bonus saver accounts. German contends that this allows CBA to pay out relatively less interest to customers, which boosts its net interest margin and adds about $1.7bn to its annual profit.

CORPORATES
COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG

Banks ramp up plans for potential cash disruption

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Original article by James Eyers
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 3-Apr-24

Australia’s major banks and retailers are preparing contingency plans to ensure that cash deliveries will continue in the event that Armaguard collapses. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission has authorised the banks and retailers to co-operate in maintaining the continuity of cash transit services amid ongoing concern about Armaguard’s viability. The banks have also warned that government intervention may be necessary if Armaguard collapses.

CORPORATES
ARMAGUARD, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

ANZ settles class action for $57.5m

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Original article by David Ross
The Australian – Page: 15 & 18 : 26-Mar-24

The ANZ Bank will pay $57.5 million to settle a class action brought by Phi Finney McDonald, with the law firm having alleged that the bank’s credit card had incorrectly charged customers. Phi Finney McDonald claimed the ANZ had told customers that they could pay repay as much or as little of the balance of their credit cards as they wanted, but did not warn them that if they did not repay the full balance that they would be charged interest against the full amount borrowed. The action was backed by Woodsford Litigation Funding, with the settlement due to be approved by the federal court in August.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, PHI FINNEY McDONALD PTY LTD, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

ACCC cedes on Suncorp takeover

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Original article by Lucas Baird, James Eyers, Liam Walsh
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 6-Mar-24

The Australian Competition Tribunal has published its full reasons for approving the ANZ Bank’s $4.9bn deal to acquire the banking arm of Suncorp Group. It concluded amongst other things that it will not result in any substantive change in the structure of the market and is unlikely to lead to increased ‘coordination’ between the nation’s four major banks. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission has advised that it will not appeal against the tribunal’s ruling. The federal government must also approve the deal on national interest grounds.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, SUNCORP BANK, SUNCORP GROUP LIMITED – ASX SUN, AUSTRALIA. COMPETITION TRIBUNAL, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

Australians lose nearly $1 billion a year in card surcharges and the RBA has warned banks it has to stop

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Original article by Samuel Yang
abc.net.au – Page: Online : 5-Mar-24

Analysis based on figures from the Reserve Bank has revealed that Australians are losing $960.26 million a year in card surcharges, which can be significantly reduced through proper implementation of least-cost routing (LCR). LCR is an RBA scheme that seeks to cut card payment processing fees for businesses, and RBA governor Michele Bullock has threatened to mandate it by the middle of the year if a target of 80 per cent of business terminals being enabled with LCR is not met by then.

CORPORATES
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

ANZ cleared for $4.9bn Suncorp deal

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Original article by Paulina Duran
The Australian – Page: 15 & 19 : 21-Feb-24

The ANZ Bank will overtake National Australia Bank as the nation’s third-biggest lender after receiving approval for its acquisition of Suncorp Bank. The Australian Competition Tribunal rejected the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission’s assertion that the $4.9bn deal would substantially lessen competition in sectors such as mortgage lending. The tribunal’s deputy president John Halleysays it was of the view that the small increase in ANZ’s market share arising from the merger would not significantly increase the likelihood of ‘co-ordination’ among the major banks in order to limit competition.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, SUNCORP BANK, SUNCORP GROUP LIMITED – ASX SUN, AUSTRALIA. COMPETITION TRIBUNAL, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

Bendigo cool on ANZ plan

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Original article by Lucas Baird
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 20-Feb-24

The Australian Competition Tribunal’s decision on the ANZ Bank’s bid to acquire Suncorp Group’s banking arm will be announced today. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission blocked the deal in 2023. Bendigo & Adelaide Bank MD Marnie Baker says the ANZ-Suncorp deal is "not a good transaction for competition or consumers", although she has declined to state whether Bendigo will make an offer for Suncorp Bank if the ANZ deal is rejected. Meanwhile, Bendigo has posted a 2023-24 interim cash profit of $268.2m, which is five per cent lower than previously.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, SUNCORP BANK, SUNCORP GROUP LIMITED – ASX SUN, AUSTRALIA. COMPETITION TRIBUNAL, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, BENDIGO AND ADELAIDE BANK LIMITED – ASX BEN