Banking
Banking
Home loan fees jump 17 per cent as banks collect $15 billion
Australian banks collected roughly $15 billion in fee revenue in the year to June 2025, a 3 per cent lift on the prior year, according to the Reserve Bank of Australia's latest annual survey of bank charges. On the big four's combined balance sheets, that number barely registers.
Banking
NAB and Westpac cut rewards and raise rates from 1 October
The number that matters most to anyone carrying a balance: NAB is lifting the variable purchase rate on the Rewards Platinum, Rewards Signature and NAB Qantas Rewards Premium cards from 20.99% to 22.49% p.a., effective 1 October 2026.
Banking
Macquarie cuts variable home loan rate to 6.04%
Macquarie Bank moved its advertised variable home loan rates without waiting for the Reserve Bank of Australia to act.
UK
Bank of England holds rate at 3.75% amid Iran war uncertainty
The number that matters most from the Bank of England's latest meeting is not 3.75, it is three. Three members of the Monetary Policy Committee voted against holding Bank Rate, preferring an immediate rise.
Banking
ASIC sues audit firm over $446m First Guardian collapse
Audit reports were signed. Opinions were clean. And, on ASIC's account, the work behind those opinions either fell well short of professional standards or, in at least one year, left no trace in the files at all.
Business
Westpac's Peter Nash quits board as KPMG audit-leaks scandal closes in
Peter Nash retired from the Westpac board on 1 July 2026, three weeks after his private ties to KPMG became a public problem.
Banking
Bank of America Settles Epstein Claims for $72.5M, No Admission
America's second-largest bank becomes the third major institution to settle sex-trafficking claims without admitting wrongdoing. Survivors get compensation, executives get immunity, and the cycle continues.