3 May 2018

Bank of New Zealand makes strong first half profit

1:03 pm on 3 May 2018

The Bank of New Zealand has made a strong profit, driven up by growth in customer deposits and savings.

BNZ Wellington.

BNZ Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson

The bank said its first half net profit rose nearly 18 percent to $490 million, while its cash earnings rose nearly nine percent.

Growth in business and house loans, as well as improved interest rate margins, boosted revenue by 11 percent.

Expenses rose more than seven percent, as it invested more in digital technology, and says it will need to invest more.

It says more than 92 percent of its transactions and 49 percent of sales are now digital.

Provisions for bad debts rose by $1 million to $41 million.

The BNZ's Australian parent, NAB, made a first half net profit of $AU2.58 billion, slightly more than last year.