Briefs: ANZ takes step to promote financial gender equity, AMP Bank reviewing investor lending

ANZ has introduced a number of measures, both for staff and customers, to help women improve their financial position. For staff, the bank is increasing paid parental leave from 12 to 24 months and is providing top-up superannuation payments of A$500 a year for female employees. For customers, it will offer free superannuation advice to women with super balances of less than $50,000 and it is training planners to be specialists in women's financial needs. The bank will issue a report on the barriers to achieving financial gender equity today.
AMP Bank has responded to speculation that it is about to stop lending to property investors altogether, with a statement issued yesterday saying: "AMP Bank is currently reviewing its credit criteria for investment property lending. We expect to announce the outcome of this review this week." Earlier this week Business Insider Australia reported that AMP Bank would get out of the investor mortgage market, including lending to self-managed superannuation funds, and would increase rates on outstanding investor loans by 100 basis points.