Australia

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank's profit increases as investor confidence on regional banks rebounds.

Reduction of bad debts resulting from improving global financial climate caused the US$1.44bn cash profit.

Lender wants acquisitions and formation of strategic partnerships focusing on Indonesia, China and Vietnam.

The lender reissued yen-denominated bonds after a year-long hiatus due to global financial crisis.

An analyst said CEO Gail Kelly’s move aims to cultivate long-term succession candidates.

Connection of about 1600 ATMs of two banks could be accomplished by March 2010.  

NAB's purchase agreement of AXA's wealth management business for US$4.2 billion has no impact on its ratings.

ACCC will likely turn down mergers of Big Four with smaller banks amid global financial crisis.

Australian government set measures to intensify competition among its biggest banks to cut banking charges.

China would be next in Asia Pacific after ANZ had established foothold in Indonesia and Vietnam.

Bank managers are reinstated in Westpac South Coast to serve customers with personal touch.

ANZ today announced the official opening of its global headquarters, ANZ Centre, in Melbourne’s Docklands precinct.

Commonwealth Bank said its unaudited cash profit was around 1.4 billion Australian dollars (US$1.29 billion) for the three months ended Sept. 30, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Westpac is set to release US$9,200 loans to Australian homeowners to install sustainable and eco-friendly energy facilities.   The bank said Nov. 8 the loans support the Australian Government Green Loans Program and will give homeowners an opportunity to improve their energy and water use efficiency, according to The Sydney Morning Herald ."The Green Loans Program assists families to install solar, water saving and energy efficient products to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," a statement from Westpac said."It also has the potential to help around 360,000 Australian households save on energy and water bills."Westpac group executive for retail and business banking, Peter Hanlon, said the initiative was an investment into the future. "Sustainability is an integral part of Westpac's business strategy, having already reduced our emissions by 40 per cent between 1996 and 2008 with a further reduction of 30 per cent targeted by 2013," Mr Hanlon said.

Westpac head still optimistic on bank's performance next year as economic conditions improve.

Partnership will strengthen CDB's presence in Asia-Pacific region with ANZ as its agent.