THE BENDIGO and Adelaide Bank has announced strong profits in a year defined by pandemic and economic uncertainty.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Full year cash earnings rose 51.1 per cent and statutory net profit climbed 172 per cent.
Nearly 10 per cent more people decided to bank with the group in 2020/21.
Predictions of more COVID-19 disruption were underlining the need for the bank to keep the focus on customers and communities, managing director Marnie Baker said.
"The nation faces potential further disruption, with an ambition to transition out of the pandemic," she told the Australian Stock Exchange on Monday morning.
"This further underlines the importance of our longstanding purpose - feeding into prosperity, not off it."
Historically low interest rates continue to put pressure on profit margins, Ms Baker said.
It is being offset by lending demands from customers across its consumer, business and agribusiness divisions, she said.
"We anticipate economic and market conditions will continue to provide both ongoing challenges and opportunities for our bank.
"While we expect the housing and employment markets to grow nationally - as well as the economic expansion of regional Australia - we remain cautious of the potential impacts of further pandemic induced lockdowns, a slower than initially anticipated vaccine rollout and take-up, international trade sentiment and the continuing effects of natural disasters, and climate change.
"At the same time, we are encouraged by measures introduced by state and federal governments to aid Australia's economic recovery."
The bank has kept its high trust and customer experience rankings through the pandemic, Ms Baker said.
It has also had a "resolute focus on cost and productivity" and has been investing in digital banking strategies.
Ms Baker revealed on Monday morning that the bank wanted to purchase Melbourne-based fintech Ferocia.
The move would consolidate the bank's ownership of Up, which is marketed as Australia's highest rating banking app.
Up had previously operated under a collaboration model and was already supported by the bank's core infrastructure.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Bookmark bendigoadvertiser.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter @BgoAddy
- Follow us on Instagram @bendigoadvertiser
- Join us on Facebook
- If you're a subscriber, join our subscriber-only Facebook group
- Follow us on Google News