Please note that as of August 2012, The Bank Investor site is no longer being updated.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 John Kavanagh
John Kavanagh is the founding editor of The Bank Investor.
Westpac looks for growth from BT Financial Group 
Revenue growth is an elusive commodity in the financial services industry at the moment, but Westpac is betting it can boost revenue by getting more of its banking customers to buy products in fast-growing wealth management sectors.
Brad Cooper, the head of Westpac wealth management division BT ... More
Published on Monday, 23 July, 2012
Filed under Westpac, analysts, funds management
Westpac's subordinated notes will pay over six per cent
Westpac has launched an issue of subordinated notes, seeking to raise A$500 million in tier two capital. The notes, which will be listed, will pay 2.75 per cent over the 90-day bank bill rate.
With the 90-day bill rate around 3.5 per cent, the notes will pay around 6.25 per cent for the first ... More
BOQ a Buy on impaired loan sale
Deutsche Bank reaffirmed its Buy recommendation on Bank of Queensland last week, after BOQ announced the sale of a portfolio of non-performing loans. In February, BOQ had announced plans to sell A$230 million of commercial property loans. At the end of June it said the sale would not go ahead, ... More
Published on Monday, 23 July, 2012
Filed under BOQ, analysts, small institutions
Westpac targets growth through higher wealth cross-sell
Revenue growth is an elusive commodity in the financial services industry at the moment, but Westpac is betting it can boost revenue by getting more of its banking customers to buy products in fast-growing wealth management sectors.
Brad Cooper, the head of BT Financial Group, Westpac's wealth ... More
Published on Monday, 16 July, 2012
Filed under Westpac, funds management
What the analysts are saying: ANZ and CBA upgraded on dividend sustainability
Citi Research has upgraded ANZ and Commonwealth to a Buy because they offer sustainable dividends and attractive yields. Citi's view, in a report issued in Friday, is that dividend sustainability has taken on greater importance for investors in an environment where there is little prospect of ... MoreWhat the analysts are saying: more bouquets for NAB
Macquarie Securities is the second equity researcher in as many weeks to upgrade National Australia Bank. Its change has been prompted by a positive view on the changes the bank is making to its United Kingdom operations and the fact that NAB has been the most aggressive among the big four banks ... MoreSmall caps: IMB shares plunge on buyback proposal
IMB shareholders have sold down the building society's stock over the past month, giving the thumbs-down to a buyback plan that the IMB board announced at the end of May.
IMB has a hybrid structure; it is a mutual approved deposit-taking institution and also a public company limited by guarantee ... More
Published on Monday, 2 July, 2012
Filed under IMB, small institutions
What the analysts are saying: NAB is a Buy
Citi has changed its recommendation on National Australia Bank, calling the stock a Buy based on its share price underperformance compared with its big bank peers. NAB stock has traded about six per cent below its peers this year. In a note to clients, Citi said: "We believe that with NAB's ... MoreBanks get no growth from fee income
With banks' funding costs rising since late last year and demand for credit subdued, investors cannot expect to see much growth in net interest income this year. And now any hope that the banks might be able to generate some earnings growth through higher non-interest income has been dashed by ... More
Published on Monday, 25 June, 2012
Filed under RBA
