At FlexiGroup's New Zealand subsidiary, the credit card unit contributed to a rise in cash profit as the company's lending growth outpaced a nationwide expansion in consumer credit.Cash profit rose nine per cent to NZ$31.9 million in the 12 months ended 30 June, outperforming the group result for its ASX listed Australian parent, BusinessDesk reported. It was a different picture at FlexiGroup's NZ leasing division, which posted a 14 per cent fall in annual earnings to NZ$9.8 million. Its lending fell three per cent to $91 million and its loan receivables declined 10 per cent to NZ$170 million. The New Zealand cards unit added 73,000 customers over the year, to reach 481,000 as at June 30. It card products include the Q Card, Flight Centre MasterCard, Farmers Card and Oxipay. Customer spending rose 14 per cent to NZ$710 million, and closing receivables ended the year up nine per cent at NZ$707 million. "This sustained growth is being driven by consumers becoming smarter with how they choose to finance and pay for the things they need," FlexiGroup NZ chief executive Chris Lamers said in a statement. However, the lending growth was accompanied by a 13 per cent increase in impairment losses on consumer loans to A$14.3 million, or 2.2 per cent of receivables.