Borrow
Another major bank flags remediation-related profit hit
Westpac has announced that its cash earnings for the second half of 2019 will take a $341 million hit, thanks to customer remediation programs.
Another major bank flags remediation-related profit hit
Westpac has announced that its cash earnings for the second half of 2019 will take a $341 million hit, thanks to customer remediation programs.
The big four bank said approximately 72 per cent of the impact relates directly to customer payments that are inclusive of interest, while the remaining 28 per cent relates to the costs associated with running remediation programs.
Of the total impact on cash earnings, $168 million will be designations associated with financial advice, while $109 million will be allocated to provisions associated with interest-only loans that did not automatically switch over to principal and interest loans when they were required to.
For Westpac CEO Brian Hartzer, “a key priority in 2019 has been to deal with outstanding remediation issues and refund customers as quickly as possible”.
“The additional provisions announced today are part of that commitment.”
Forming part of Westpac’s “get it right, put it right” initiative, the CEO said: “We are determined to fix these issues and stop these errors occurring.”
“We will continue to review our products and services to ensure they deliver the right outcomes for customers, and if necessary, make further provisions,” he continued.
It brings Westpac’s customer remediation bill to $958 million in 2019 alone.
The news comes after NAB indicated it would be setting aside an additional $832 million for remediation-related expenses in the second half of 2019 at the beginning of October.
Since then, ANZ also announced its 2019 second-half cash profit would be impacted by an additional $559 million for customer-related remediation.
RELATED ARTICLES
About the author
About the author
Banking
AMP Bank GO adds business overdraft to mobile platform for small businesses
AMP Bank has launched a business overdraft feature within its mobile-first banking platform AMP Bank GO as cash flow concerns continue to affect small business owners across Australia. Read more
Banking
Bendigo Bank named most trusted bank in Australia for 10th consecutive quarter
Bendigo Bank has retained its position as Australia's most trusted bank, according to the latest trust rankings released by research firm Roy Morgan. Read more
Banking
Account-to-account and instant payments set to reshape global payments landscape
A new report from Capgemini predicts that instant payments will account for 22% of all non-cash transactions globally by 2028, signaling a major shift in the payments industry. Read more
Banking
Powell's Jackson Hole speech to shape market expectations on rate cuts
All eyes are on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's upcoming speech at the Jackson Hole symposium, as investors anxiously await clues about the central bank's future rate decisions. Read more
Banking
Bendigo Bank economist forecasts stable rates for 2024, cuts in 2025
Bendigo Bank's Chief Economist David Robertson is maintaining his prediction that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will keep interest rates unchanged throughout 2024, with cuts likely to begin in ...Read more
Banking
Hawkish central bank expectations dampen market sentiment, boosting dollar
Recent economic data and central bank communications have dampened the market's appetite for risk assets, leading to a stronger US dollar and a pullback in commodities and equities, according to Ipek ...Read more
Banking
Bank of England expected to provide guidance on future rate cuts at today's MPC meeting
European and UK stocks are outperforming their US counterparts due to a combination of factors, including high valuations in the US, strong corporate earnings from European companies, and expectations ...Read more
Banking
Investors advised to prepare for central bank policy divergence, says deVere CEO
The Bank of England, European Central Bank (ECB), and US Federal Reserve are set to take different paths in their monetary policies, which will significantly impact investors around the world, ...Read more
Banking
AMP Bank GO adds business overdraft to mobile platform for small businesses
AMP Bank has launched a business overdraft feature within its mobile-first banking platform AMP Bank GO as cash flow concerns continue to affect small business owners across Australia. Read more
Banking
Bendigo Bank named most trusted bank in Australia for 10th consecutive quarter
Bendigo Bank has retained its position as Australia's most trusted bank, according to the latest trust rankings released by research firm Roy Morgan. Read more
Banking
Account-to-account and instant payments set to reshape global payments landscape
A new report from Capgemini predicts that instant payments will account for 22% of all non-cash transactions globally by 2028, signaling a major shift in the payments industry. Read more
Banking
Powell's Jackson Hole speech to shape market expectations on rate cuts
All eyes are on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's upcoming speech at the Jackson Hole symposium, as investors anxiously await clues about the central bank's future rate decisions. Read more
Banking
Bendigo Bank economist forecasts stable rates for 2024, cuts in 2025
Bendigo Bank's Chief Economist David Robertson is maintaining his prediction that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will keep interest rates unchanged throughout 2024, with cuts likely to begin in ...Read more
Banking
Hawkish central bank expectations dampen market sentiment, boosting dollar
Recent economic data and central bank communications have dampened the market's appetite for risk assets, leading to a stronger US dollar and a pullback in commodities and equities, according to Ipek ...Read more
Banking
Bank of England expected to provide guidance on future rate cuts at today's MPC meeting
European and UK stocks are outperforming their US counterparts due to a combination of factors, including high valuations in the US, strong corporate earnings from European companies, and expectations ...Read more
Banking
Investors advised to prepare for central bank policy divergence, says deVere CEO
The Bank of England, European Central Bank (ECB), and US Federal Reserve are set to take different paths in their monetary policies, which will significantly impact investors around the world, ...Read more
