National Australia Bank

In the latest of multiple reviews of payments and surcharging in Australia, industry seems to have only one view in common: it's a mess.

NAB narrowly avoided a court hearing this week in shareholder Diana Beere’s case, but could still face further action.

The bank is promising a simpler tech platform, lower risk and Suncorp acquisition benefits — but with margins tight, costs rising and competition fierce, will a new story help?

NAB's annual result was in line with expectations, but was weaker in key areas like credit quality and revenue.

Late-term CEOs rarely report anything that would damage their legacy. Peter King, who hands a stable, if still challenged, Westpac to his successor, is no exception.

QR code payments dominate in China, India and other emerging economies. Now they've arrived in Australia, but widespread adoption faces major hurdles.

ANZ's venture arm is not dormant, its CEO says, but it has been focused on preserving its portfolio of investments in the last two years - including a stake in Airwallex. That's about to change.

Westpac was once the most enthusiastic of the big four banks on VC. Now it is taking a more nuanced approach to the fintech sector.

The major banks make consistent profits and pay solid dividends, but they seem unjustifiably expensive. Competitors are looming and winning share but their share prices are not for the faint-hearted.

The millionaire factory's trading update showed it will keep the pressure on margins, with the focus now shifting to Commonwealth Bank and Bendigo Bank results — and the ongoing strength of bank shares.

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".

The big banks have a mixed record with their VC funds, but National Australia Bank remains committed to NAB Ventures and it's on the lookout.

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.

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.

The financial complaints authority and financial counsellors are seeing growing financial distress from BNPL and support tighter regulation.

Anti-fraud measures and workplace productivity are among the most immediate use cases for AI in financial services — but human intelligence remains central.

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.

In the latest sign of big banks being more willing to partner with fintechs, CBA has teamed up with property platform Coposit to ease access to off-the-plan properties.

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.