Hard work to turn up bank stress: Moody's

"Incremental stress" lies ahead for Australian banks, Moody's Investors Service concluded in a largely mundane review of factors affecting the local banking system.

"Impairment charges are likely to increase from the current exceptionally low levels," Moody's said, with a nod to challenges for business and households from the passing of the mining boom.

The "likely increases in credit costs (off low levels) will exert incremental pressure on profits," it noted.

Lending margins "will see moderate pressure from declining interest rates," Moody's also said.

Moody's expressed confidence that banks would adapt to regulatory pressure to lift capital levels.

"We expect capital levels to remain strong relative to global peers," it said.

"The banks retain strong organic capital generation ability, but some are likely to also undertake capital raising."