The Credit Suisse investment conference in Hong Kong provided a platform for chief executives of Australian banks to revisit and update a few favourite themes.
Three confirmed their interest in buying discrete banking businesses.
For Commonwealth Bank, whose CEO Ralph Norris spoke at the conference, they may be "potential bolt-on acquisitions" and attached to its infrastructure investment business managed from Scotland.
AAP reported on Norris' talk.
Macquarie Group, through deputy managing director Richard Sheppard, also spoke of acquisitions that may be "bolt-on rather than transforming".
Sheppard, in comments reported by afr.com, said that "our acquisitions tend to be fairly opportunistic."
He said "the main message here is that Macquarie has a surplus of capital to fund whatever opportunities may come down the track."
National Australia Bank's CEO, Cameron Clyne, said that while the British banking sector was starting to improve, any move to sell its Clydesdale and Yorkshire banks or acquire other British assets would have to be financially accretive.
"We are well-positioned for organic growth and we are not a forced seller.''
AAP reported on Clyne's talk.
Both Norris and Westpac's CEO, Gail Kelly, indicated that demand for business credit in Australia was showing signs of improvement.