CBA comes up with an Asian growth story

Commonwealth Bank's investments in Asia may be one of the surprise features of the bank's December 2014 half year result this week.

CBA said its "total number of direct customers in Asia grew by 14 per cent to more than 444,000" over the last year.

At the bank's associates in China, its two County Banks reported growth in average monthly lending and deposit balances of 45 per cent and 84 per cent, respectively.

In Indonesia, where CBA has a wholly owned subsidiary, its total number of proprietary customers outside grew by 27 per cent.

The bank's position in Indonesia may, however, fall under a cloud.

Indonesia's House of Representative is considering a bill that would to limit foreign ownership in Indonesian Banks to a ceiling of 40 per cent, down from 99 per cent currently.

Established banks that are majority-owned by foreigners will be given a ten year period to divest their shares once the bill is passed.