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Big business and, to a lesser extent, households experienced minor reductions in average interest rates over the last two to three months, the quarterly Statement on Monetary Policy from the Reserve.. read more

The lop-sided nature of credit supply from Australian banks emerges from the interim results of National Australia Bank, a supposed champion of business lending. read more

NAB CEO Cameron Clyne also pointed out, at yesterday's investor briefing, that the bank was "forced to make a significant uplift in capability in the frontline sales force and mortgage processing" -.. read more

National Australia Bank remains well off the pace, compared with its three big bank peers, in producing tolerable returns on shareholder funds or approaching international benchmarks for bank profit.. read more

Fitch Ratings yesterday upgraded the long-term credit rating on Bendigo and Adelaide Bank to A- from BBB+. read more

Lloyds Banking Group last night flagged a further rise in the impairment charge for its businesses in Australia and New Zealand. read more

A breakdown in the air-conditioning unit at Westpac's primary data centre in Sydney yesterday led to the loss of key banking services for part or all of the day. read more

A two-year project to reduce the concentration in commercial property lending at Westpac following the takeover of St George Bank has run its course, with the bank now more open to meeting the new f.. read more

ANZ's wholly-owned banking business in Asia produced an improved profit for the group in the March 2011 half, though this accounts for less than one third of the profit that bank management likes to.. read more

A tightening in monetary policy seemed to be foreshadowed in a statement from the governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, following the monthly board meeting yesterday. read more