ANZ Bank

Demographic shifts may partly explain widespread selling of bank stocks by mum and dad investors — which has driven retail ownership of three of the big four to its lowest levels.

Andrew Irvine took over NAB at a high point for the lender. But now things are slowing a strategic review will guide how much his predecessor's strategy needs to be "evolved".

While older than incumbent Shayne Elliott, Mark Whelan's impressive turnaround of ANZ's oft-maligned institutional bank had given him an inside run to be the next CEO. But the past is back to haunt him.

ANZ's efforts to restore its reputation are at risk after fresh reports of bad behaviour by its bond traders.

The banks are facing off with fintechs in the debate over the failure and future of open banking in Australia. Either way, the regime faces obvious challenges.

Mortgage competition has eased, which is good news for banks. But competition for deposits is now heating up.

The finance sector is looking beyond box ticking for a competitive edge using social enterprises in their ESG programs. Budget measures help fuel the sector's growth.

Lenders are paying closer attention to buy now, pay later loans when assessing how much to offer prospective home buyers.

Small business is increasingly polarised between those struggling with costs and slow growth and those thriving and investing. For good credits, banks have sharp pencils.

Nearly two-thirds of new home loans come via mortgage brokers. The economics stack up, just not for bank margins.

Despite the struggles faced by pure play BNPL providers, the payment option looks like it will survive, boosted by popularity among younger people. But it's the established players who may benefit the most.

Australia's big banks have all raised wholesale funding in recent weeks in issues that were heavily oversubscribed. Analysts and debt market observers say it’s being driven by the same forces lifting their share prices.

Bull runs are by nature quixotic and the current one in bank stocks has no visible means of support. A very predictable earnings season has added little to the story.

Many are undoubtedly doing it tough in the face of cost-of-living pressures, but ANZ CEO Shayne Elliott says it's less likely to be those with mortgages than others who can't access finance from banks.

Australia's banks are solid, with the economy resilient, bad debts under control and margin pressure easing. But investors are increasingly asking how these unexciting fundamentals support over-valued shares.

Senators also said flaws in existing corporate and consumer laws meant they failed to prevent consumers from buying products based on questionable sustainability claims.

This year marks a changing of the guard at the very top of some of Australia's biggest banks. Could CBA's Matt Comyn be the next to move on — and possibly seek a more lucrative role overseas?

Over the last six months, ANZ, CBA and NAB have all pulled back in various ways from Asia. But in the case of ANZ - and Macquarie - it’s less a story of retreat from the region than of expansion.

As the Albanese government pushes for closer business ties with Southeast Asia, there are lessons to be learned from Australian banks' efforts to expand in the region.

Having once shunned heavy-emitting companies, banks are now instead offering tailored loans to help them navigate the energy transition.

Bank M&A, a notorious destroyer of shareholder value, is again in focus due to the ANZ-Suncorp transaction. So how has the last big deal in the sector panned out?

While buy now, pay later and debit cards have dominated headlines, venerable American Express has been quietly growing its market share and lending.

Reaction to the approval of ANZ's deal to buy Suncorp has been polarised with the market split between short and long term gratification (or disappointment).

The corporate dealmaking community was hoping for a better year after a difficult 2023. An early M&A flurry suggests that optimism may not be misplaced.

ANZ had two chances to overturn an ACCC rejection of its bid for Suncorp Bank. It only needed one, with the Competition Tribunal waving the bid through.

ANZ will finally know tomorrow whether it will be allowed to buy Suncorp's bank. Bendigo and Adelaide Bank will be among those watching closely.