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Finance

This Month

People-pleasing can come at a significant financial cost.

People pleasing cost me $32,000. Here are four ways to stop it

Since people pleasing is a personality trait, dialling back your spending requires more than learning the nuts and bolts of money management.

  • Juli Fraga and Connie Chang

October

AMP is on track to launch its new business bank in February.

AMP eyes February for long-planned expansion into business banking

The company, which already has a major mortgage loan book, will target start-ups and sole traders as it attempts to find higher margins.

  • James Eyers
The hospitality industry is concerned that it may have to bear the costs of a ban on debit card payment surcharges.

RBA puts payment industry on notice to protect shops, restaurants

Business groups including those representing the hospitality and convenience sectors worry they will be left wearing the cost of a ban on debit card fees.

  • James Eyers and Lucas Baird

July

Andrew Griffin, the chief executive of Balmain, is targeting companies that have failed ESG tests for his latest private credit fund.

This private credit fund is going big on companies failing ESG tests

Balmain Corporation said it had considered calling the strategy a “Vulture Series” – but decided naming it after a different bird of prey was more appropriate.

  • Primrose Riordan
Alex Syhanath runs Citi’s Australian commercial bank, a 34-person team that targets companies with more than $15 million in revenue.

Bankers seeking their next big pay day are chasing these clients

Investment banks are now after riskier, smaller companies so they can pounce on the spoils of a trophy listing or a huge sale to private equity.

  • Aaron Weinman
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June

CBA has remained disciplined and kept its margins despite increasing competition.

CBA unveils aggressive business banking strategy to take on Macquarie

Among measures outlined by the bank is a plan to target $20 billion in deposits real estate agents hold for renters, a niche dominated by Macquarie.

  • Michael Bleby, James Eyers and Lucas Baird

May

Bendigo Bank has a new marketing campaign painting it as a big bank, but more attentive to customers.

Why Bendigo Bank shares are up sharply this month

Bendigo’s senior management briefed analysts and investors on a new four-year strategy, which includes a new lending platform and push into business lending.

  • James Eyers
Deloitte chairman Tom Imbesi, Future Women founder Helen McCabe, Deloitte chief Adam Powick, and ex-politico Tony Smith at the National Press Club on Wednesday.

Liontown’s Tim Goyder turns up to thank Jim Chalmers

Heavy hitters wary of party political functions have grown fond of the National Press Club’s Great Hall lunch.

  • Myriam Robin
CBA and its rivals have reported strong demand for credit from businesses, a sign of strength in the economy.

Business loan demand spikes, keeping inflation fears alive

CBA, the country’s largest lender, says a strong labour market is driving “robust” demand from companies, which could push up prices, economists warn.

  • James Eyers and Lucas Baird
Macquarie CEO Shemara Wikramanayake has been appointed business champion to the Philippines.

Macquarie goes after big four’s business lending lunch

The investment bank’s share of small business lending is only 1.7 per cent, but its $15.8 billion book grew by 22 per cent for the year and Macquarie wants more.

  • Updated
  • James Eyers and Lucas Baird

April

Capify is saying goodbye to Goldman Sachs as its funder.

SME lender Capify swaps out Goldman Sachs as funder

Goldman Sachs Private Capital had previously funded Capify with a $135 million facility established in 2019. 

  • Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport

March

We asked 11 experts where they would invest $1 million.

Where to invest $1m right now

We asked 11 experts where they would invest $1 million to earn serious returns; then we asked them to nominate an indulgence spend.

  • Lucy Dean, Joanna Mather and Tom Richardson
Mike Vacy-Lyle

CBA’s business bank boss explains why ‘saffers’ can be good CEOs

Mike Vacy-Lyle says his South African upbringing has instilled a can-do attitude and the confidence to take on any competition.

  • James Eyers
Luke Trickett stepped away from the fund manager he founded to become the fulltime CEO of start-up Marmalade.

Former stockbroker, Afterpay alumni raise $16m for fintech start-up

Former Wilsons stockbroker and Australian national swimmer Luke Trickett has raised $16 million for his invoice payments start-up Marmalade.

  • Tess Bennett
NAB has entered the small business software space with Bookkeeper.

NAB chases MYOB and Xero with new Bookkeeper software

It is the bank’s first foray into the accounting tools market dominated by the two Australian companies, with its new product aimed at sole trader customers.

  • James Eyers
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February

Sensitive bidding data from the big four, among others, was released in a Finance Department email stuff-up.

Firms fume as Finance hits damage control in pricing email stuff-up

The Finance Department said the confidential pricing it accidentally emailed to 236 consulting firms was old and that bidders didn’t rely on these fees anyway.

  • Edmund Tadros, Tom Burton and Ronald Mizen
Macquarie and CBA are going head-to-head to win deposits from business customers.

CBA’s business boss describes Macquarie as a ‘formidable’ competitor

Macquarie’s assault on major banks will force CBA to lift investment, as Mike Vacy-Lyle confirms it will target real estate agents with a new software product.

  • James Eyers
Greg Ward, head of Macquarie’s banking and financial services division, which wants to take more market share from major lenders.

Macquarie’s war on big four escalates with business lending assault

Macquarie said it had appetite to deploy its retail banking technology into the business market to grow deposits and lending against CBA and NAB.

  • Updated
  • James Eyers

January

Judo Bank CEO Joseph Healy.

Judo shares leap, one day after being downgraded from buy to sell

The additional clarity on the 2024 targets has provided some relief to investors, who had watched the shares fall 30 per cent over 2023.

  • James Eyers

November 2023

Ada Guan, co-founder and chief executive of Rich Data Co.

Westpac dips toe back into venture capital, backs AI loan assessor

Sydney-based Rich Data Co has banked $28 million in a Series B round led by the major lender and nCino, a cloud banking provider based in the US.

  • Jessica Sier

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/finance-5x8