The efforts spent by Bank of Queensland's finance team in shoring up their balance sheets have stabilised margins and kept crucial ratios in line - although it's not always so obvious, according to Anthony Rose, chief financial officer.  For example, BOQ benefited from a run-off in liquid assets as the bank transitioned to the Basel III APS 210 liquidity standard. The group's liquid asset requirements were also reduced after consolidating the BOQ Specialist division under BOQ's banking licence and, in effect, handing back the former Investec banking licence. That move benefited NIM ratios by three basis points over the half. The investment the bank is making in the digitisation of its retail lending origination process is a major item for the bank and one of the leadership team's "key deliverables" for FY 16. Given this high intangible asset charge, Rose said he would not "guide" a lower cost to income ratio than the "high watermark" of 45 per cent in FY 16. The bank's intangible asset charge of A$17 million will double in the next two years, with approximately 75 per cent of the increase hitting results in FY 16.  Some of this impact will be "sheltered" by the efficiencies delivered by the recent renewals of the bank's outsourcing relationships, Rose said. Chief executive Jon Sutton said BOQ had continued to improve the mix of its customer deposits.  An increase of $260 million over the year in transaction account balances was held up as an indication that BOQ is becoming the main financial institution of more customers. Deposits are also staying on track."Our deposit to loan ratio has been maintained comfortably in the range we seek to operate in, of 65 to 70 per cent," said Rose.