Hana beats ANZ to KEB 23 November 2010 5:36PM Hana Financial Group may be about to beat ANZ to a controlling stake in Korea Exchange Bank, and is close to agreeing to paying US$4.1 billion, from US private equity firm Lone Star. Local and inter.. read more
Poor pricing and high costs at centre of banking problem 22 November 2010 6:32PM The inability of banks to turn housing finance into a genuine commodity product offered at a progressively lower cost is a key theme of a new analysis of the Australian banking industry by the Whitl.. read more
Federal mortgage insurance option proposed 22 November 2010 6:31PM The re-entry of the Australian government into the supply of mortgage insurance to lenders is one policy option proposed by economist and financial intermediary Nick Gruen, in a paper for the Whitla.. read more
Australian variant of Canadian housing finance model proposed 22 November 2010 6:29PM With appropriate props and a firm push towards more efficient industry practices the home loan funding mechanism of securitisation could re-establish a secure footing, Nick Gruen argues in his Whitl.. read more
Rhetorical props for mutuals 22 November 2010 6:27PM Credit unions and building societies got a dose of national publicity yesterday, courtesy of Treasurer Wayne Swan, who told Nine Network's Today show that banks had "behaved badly" towards borrowers.. read more
Deposit competition 'extraordinary' 19 November 2010 5:26PM Competition forces are evident on the deposit side of banks' balance sheets, providing "extraordinary" terms for some customers, Ric Battelino, the deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia,.. read more
ATM fees rising 18 November 2010 5:44PM Fees of $2.50, up from $2, are beginning to take hold in the automatic teller machine sector, with market leader Customers Limited at the forefront of rising prices. read more
Board clout for Customers 18 November 2010 5:41PM ATM operator Customers Limited announced board changes and acquisitions yesterday, with the company's new directors indicating an accelerating agenda at the firm. read more
Profit debate takes place at the margins 18 November 2010 5:36PM That profits were rising recently, and to healthy levels, is one detail in the banking debate that may be best acknowledged rather than recast in the confusing wrangle over measuring margins. Return.. read more
Serious support for small fry will cost banks 18 November 2010 5:32PM The banking reform package is already defining winners and losers among Australia's listed banks stocks. Major banks will be among the losers, while the winners will number regional banks, especially.. read more