Asian surprise for NAB 31 October 2014 4:47PM Rohneel Kumar Despite spending virtually no time on the topic at yesterday's investor briefing, NAB's management may yet have a favourable story to tell about its still small operation in Asia.Loan balances in Asia increased 25 per cent to A$9.6 billion in the September 2014 quarter. NAB shed little light on the reason for this increase, with the bulk of the rise attributed to "other" lending.NAB extended its network in Asia last year and refreshed its management there during the year with the appointment of Daryl Johnson as head of NAB's business in Asia, based in Singapore.Johnson was previously executive general manager for NAB's business bank in Australia. He ran NAB's corporate business before that.