BRANCH BANKS – AUSTRALIA

Internet banking growth and satisfaction outstrips other channels

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 12-Oct-15

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that 62.2 per cent of Australians aged 14+ used the internet (via website or mobile) to deal with their bank in an average four-week period during the six months to August 2015. This compares with 58.6 per cent in the six months to August 2013. Meanwhile, the proportion of bank customers using branches in an average four-week period has fallen from 35.5 per cent to 32.3 per cent over the last two years. The only area of growth has been mobile banking, which has increased from 26.2 per cent of Australians to 33.6 per cent. The satisfaction level of internet banking is now 90.2 per cent, compared with 88.4 per cent for branches.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, SUNCORP BANK, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA

Branch numbers are on the wane as digital banking gains popularity

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Original article by Clancy Yeates
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 24 : 24-Sep-15

Alan Shields, the MD of advisory firm RFI, expects the trend for banks to reduce branch numbers to continue. Figures from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority show that Westpac cut its branches by 48 to 1,237 in 2014-15. The ANZ Bank reduced branch numbers by 19 to 751, while National Australia Bank closed two branches. The Commonwealth Bank opened one branch in 2014-15.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, MORNINGSTAR PTY LTD, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, RETAIL FINANCE INTELLIGENCE PTY LTD

Hartzer to slim down a higher-tech Westpac

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Original article by Clancy Yeates, James Eyers
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 8-Sep-15

Westpac CEO Brian Hartzer has ruled out large-scale branch closures, although he has conceded that some branches are likely to be closed as the shift toward online banking gains momentum. Hartzer has also flagged plans to increase the banking major’s investment in technology, as part of a strategy to boost overall investment by 20 per cent. Westpac will also seek to ensure that its return on equity remains above 15 per cent.

CORPORATES
WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, ST GEORGE BANK LIMITED, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, BANK OF MELBOURNE LIMITED, BANK OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB

Mobile banking tipped to wipe 600 branches

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Original article by James Eyers
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 14 : 3-Aug-15

A UBS report forecasts that the growing shift to the use of mobile banking services will result in a 5.6 per cent reduction in the number of bank branches globally. Australian bank executives who participated in the UBS survey expect local bank branch numbers to be slashed by 11 per cent in coming years, which would equate to 603 branches. The survey also forecasts that the proportion of banking transactions carried out using mobile technology will rise from 25 per cent to 46 per cent in the next three years.

CORPORATES
UBS AG, AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, SCENTRE GROUP – ASX SCG, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, NAB VENTURES

Analysts urge Westpac to close 200 branches

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Original article by Clancy Yeates
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 11-Jul-14

Westpac Banking could reduce costs by closing up to 200 branches. Analysts from JPMorgan said that Westpac generated a third less profit per branch than some competitors. They said that the St George branches, acquired in 2008, were a drain on the business. Closing 200 branches is estimated to save $A400 million a year. The analysts said that Westpac should reconsider its strategy of offering a number of brands

CORPORATES
WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, ST GEORGE BANK LIMITED, JP MORGAN AUSTRALIA LIMITED, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, BANK OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA LIMITED, BANK OF MELBOURNE LIMITED, RAMS HOME LOANS PTY LTD, BANK OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, UBANK, STANDARD AND POOR’S (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD