Please note that as of August 2012, The Bank Investor site is no longer being updated. Australia and New Zealand's best analysis of the banking and finance industry can be found at Banking Day.
Articles by David Walker
David Walker contributes to The Bank Investor and its sister publication, Banking Day.
Stiff margin contraction hits ANZ Australia 
A seven per cent fall in earnings for ANZ's Australian division was driven by a 13 basis point decline in its net interest margin, which fell from 2.58 per cent in September to 2.45 per cent in the March 2012 half.
The Australian retail and business banking arm reported a profit of A$1.34 billion ... More
NAB takes the bad bank option in UK
National Australia Bank provided a rush version of its March 2012 half year profit this morning to provide context to the long-awaited decision on how to restructure its troubled banking business in Britain.
NAB said that cash earnings for the March 2012 half year were A$2.82 billion. This is ... More
Macquarie Group faithful to its model
Macquarie Group is taking a long-term view of the earnings prospects for its capital markets' businesses, based mainly on the calibre of the managers charged with securing the turnaround of divisions that are either making losses or doing no better than break-even.
The group reported a profit of ... More
Published on Monday, 30 April, 2012
Filed under Macquarie Group, results
Commonwealth Bank keeps its focus on the local market
Commonwealth Bank chief executive Ian Narev has committed the bank to pursuing its growth strategy "in Australia primarily" over the next few years. Narev believes the bank's key capabilities are best deployed meeting the needs of customers in its core franchises – the domestic retail and small ... More
Published on Monday, 23 April, 2012
Filed under Commonwealth, outlook
Bank of Queensland prepared to lose margin in return for deposit growth
Bank of Queensland will offer a pricing premium of around 10 basis points on term deposits in order to maintain above-system growth in its deposit book and attain its target retail funding level of 63 per cent.
The bank yesterday provided a fresh view of the composition of its funding in a ... More
Banking system must meet capital shortfall
The banking industry worldwide needs to set aside the equivalent of 15 months' profit to meet target capital requirements under the Basel III regime, a new study from the Bank for International Settlements shows.
The BIS reviewed data from 212 of the world's most active banks and is based on data ... More
Published on Monday, 16 April, 2012
Filed under prudential
Small caps: Wide Bay Australia to wind down unprofitable insurance arm
Listed building society Wide Bay Australia is to wind down its captive mortgage insurance business and source all its insurance from external providers. The Bundaberg-based building society disclosed the plan in an investor presentation lodged with the ASX last week. It said the move would ... More
Published on Monday, 16 April, 2012
Filed under small institutions
ANZ bearish on local outlook, focuses on China
ANZ has issued a reminder to investors that returns will be lower and growth slower in the future as higher capital ratios and the increased cost of funds drag on bank profits.
Phil Chronican, ANZ's chief executive for Australia, told a business lunch last week that "banking is going to be more ... More
Small caps: Bidder DirectCash prices Customers Ltd at NTA
The ATM fleet aggregated by Customers Limited over the last eleven years will change hands for a fourth time if an offer from Canadian firm DirectCash valued at A$182 million receives support from shareholders.
Talk of a takeover bid for Customers had circulated for many months. Other interested ... More
Published on Tuesday, 10 April, 2012
Filed under Customers Limited
IPO watch: Genworth Australia prepares for listing on the Australian Securities Exchange
Genworth Australia is putting the pieces in place for its planned listing on the Australian Securities Exchange later this year. Over the past month the company has announced the appointment of a new non-executive chairman and a new board member. Genworth is yet to announce details of its initial ... More
Published on Tuesday, 10 April, 2012
Filed under Genworth, initial public offering
ANZ and Suncorp grow mortgage share
ANZ and Suncorp are two lenders growing at above system in the home loan market over recent months, with Westpac being the lender showing a notional loss in market share.
Monthly data compiled by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority shows ANZ growing at around twice the level of the ... More
Published on Monday, 2 April, 2012
Filed under ANZ, Suncorp, Westpac, home lending
National Australia Bank thinks big in US Midwest
National Australia Bank is scouting for more banks to buy in the United States in order to improve the reach of Great Western Bank in select Midwest states.
Doug Bass, regional president in Iowa for Great Western, told the Des Moines Register that the bank wants to have the top two or three ... More
Published on Monday, 2 April, 2012
Filed under NAB
