Half-year bank results see decline
Half-year major bank result analysis by Deloitte shows the banks are still struggling to make growth against the headwinds.
Aggregate cash profit declined by 4.1 per cent to $14.5 billion, while total income declined by 4 per cent to $41.1 billion.
Total operating expenses went down three per cent to $18.9 billion, and the total refund and remediation bill since 2017 had stood at $5.6 billion.
Paul Rehder, Deloitte Australia Banking Leader, said large scale remediation programs, intensifying regulation and increased risk management because of the Royal Commission were the common themes of Australia’s major banks half-year results.
“Looking ahead, the banks are accelerating their focus on productivity and the ‘core’ and continuing to keep their operating expenses down,” Rehder said.
“All four chief executive officers (CEOs) announced simplifying their operations and offers, and where appropriate continuing their demergers and divestments.”
Steven Cunico, Deloitte financial services treasury advisory lead and author of the report, said while overall results for the banks appeared largely flat, the underlying detail showed divisional performance did vary.
“All four major banks experienced weakness in their retail businesses,” Cunico said.
“However, they were able to offset this by recording growth in their business banking, institutional banking and New Zealand operations.”
Recommended for you
As the first quarter of 2024 comes to a close, Money Management looks back on the corporate regulator’s bans and AFSL cancellations in the financial advice sector.
Insignia Financial is holding ‘relatively steady’ onto its rank as Australia’s second-largest financial advice licensee after the Godfrey Pembroke exit but Count is hot on its heels.
Liberal senator Slade Brockman has said the government needs to have a “cold hard look” at the level of regulation in the financial advice space and the costs of running a business.
FAAA chief executive, Sarah Abood, has warned changes in the first tranche of the QAR legislation around advice fees documentation could create more work for advisers rather than less.