Business customers are 50 per cent more likely than big bank customers to recommend their bank to others.

Bendigo also topped the customer satisfaction count.

The findings announced by Morgan Research were based on a six-month sample of 12,000 business decision-makers across Australia.

Bendigo Bank retail executive Dennis Bice said the results reflected the bank’s people and their focus on the success of their customers.

“We believe if our customers are successful, then that will flow through to our own success," he said. 

“Everything starts with that connection to the customer, but it’s bigger than that,  

"We have also invested in bringing customers the latest and best in digital technology, particularly our mobile payments solution GoPos which has been a big hit.

“But while these results are really pleasing, we don’t intend to rest on our laurels.

“Our customers can expect to see some further major initiatives this year that will deliver them service and advice whenever and wherever they need it."

The study found 74.3 per cent of customers would recommend their bank compared with an average of less than 50 per cent of major bank customers.

Bendigo Bank is Australia’s fifth-largest bank with 1.6 million customers and assets of $65 billion.

The bank recorded a statutory profit of $372.3 million after tax, while underlying cash earnings were $382.3 million, a 9.9 per cent increase on the prior corresponding period in the past financial year.

Cash earnings per share were 91.5 cents, an increase of 7.1 per cent. 

The final fully-franked dividend of 33 cents per share is up on the interim dividend, lifting the fully-year dividend by three cents, to 64 cents per share.