HSBC Bank Australia had mixed results in 2012, with strong performances in its retail and global banking divisions being offset by a significant decline in its commercial division.According to information in the accounts of HSBC Holdings (no local release was issued), profit before tax for the Australian retail banking and wealth management division of the local operation was US$97 million - up 10.2 per cent on the 2011 result.Profit for the global banking and markets division was up from US$108 million in 2011 to US$184 million last year - an increase of 70.4 per cent.Profit before tax for the commercial banking division fell from US$106 million in 2011 to US$38 million last year.A large part of that fall was due to what the company described as "a single large impairment of a corporate exposure."Among the results' highlights was strong growth in the credit card portfolio. According to Australian Prudential Regulation Authority figures, HSBC card balances grew by 11 per cent last year - the fastest growth of any lender in that segment. HSBC is the sixth largest credit card issuer in the Australian market.Its mortgage book grew by 4.5 per cent, which was a little ahead of system growth.APRA figures show that its business loan book reduced by 8.3 per cent, although the group's accounts do not appear to show this.Gross loans and advances in Australia grew from US$19 billion in 2011 to US$21 billion last year.An HSBC Bank Australia spokesperson said the group had changed its reporting policy and would no longer be providing separate details or commentary on the local business' performance.