Briefs: Credit card limits up but not balances, CBA refuses to back compo scheme, Money3 looks to bo

Banking Day staff
  • Reserve Bank of Australia data released yesterday shows credit card limits totalled almost A$146 billion at June 2015, an average of $9048 per card for each of the 16 million-plus credit cards in circulation, compared to $138 billion ($9,180 per card) in 2012.  But cardholders are not drifting into greater credit card debt, because the proportion of total available credit limit actually used was 35.36 per cent, down from 37.36 per cent December 2012, according to comparison website creditcardfinder.com.au. The website noted noted: "This means while credit card limits have increased, cardholders have kept their balances at almost the same level since 2012."

  • The CBA has refused to back an industry-wide compensation scheme of last resort for victims of financial planning disasters, as the bank's wealth arm continues to grapple with the fallout of its own advice scandals, the SMH reports. In a written statement the bank said it endorsed the position of the Australian Bankers' Association, which last week told a Senate hearing it saw "no urgent need" for such a scheme. This comes after ANZ Bank, Westpac and AMP all agreed to give their "in principle" support for such a scheme in recent days.

  • Lending business Money3 is set to follow in the footsteps of Cash Converters and tap debt capital markets to fill the funding hole left by Westpac's decision to stop lending to the company at the end of next year, the AFR's Street Talk says. It's understood Money3 is considering a bond deal similar to the FIIG Securities-sponsored deals for fellow small cap financiers Silver Chef and Cash Converters, in an effort to shore-up its existing loan book and fund future growth.