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The latest Monthly Authorised Deposit-taking Institution Statistics from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) showed Australia and New Zealand Banking Group’s (ANZ) business lending portfolio grew to $152.9 billion in April after increasing by $1.9 billion over the month (+1.24 per cent).
While ANZ remained the smallest business lender among the majors, its monthly growth rate outpaced National Australia Bank (NAB), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), and Westpac.
On an annual basis, however, ANZ remained the slowest-growing major bank, with its non-financial business lending portfolio up $4.8 billion year on year (+3.2 per cent).
Majors continue to dominate business lending
NAB retained its position as Australia’s largest lender to non-financial businesses, with its portfolio reaching $270 billion in April.
The bank added $2.5 billion over the month (+0.95 per cent) and $29.3 billion over the year (+12.2 per cent), maintaining a sizeable lead over its closest competitors.
Despite its dominance, NAB has flagged growing pressure among its business customers, as input costs increasingly outpace price growth, erode business margins, and add to inflation and interest rate concerns.
CBA retained its position as the second-largest business lender, with lending rising to $238.2 billion following a $1.3 billion monthly increase (+0.54 per cent). Over the year, its business loan book expanded by $25.3 billion (+11.9 per cent).
Westpac’s non-financial business lending portfolio reached $204.2 billion after growing by $1.3 billion over the month (+0.36 per cent) and $24.3 billion over the year (+13.5 per cent), the strongest annual growth rate among the major banks.
APRA’s data show total ADI lending to non-financial businesses stood at approximately $1.24 trillion in April.
The major banks accounted for around $865.4 billion of that total, representing 70.1 per cent of the market. NAB held the largest share at 21.9 per cent, followed by CBA at 19.3 per cent, Westpac at 16.5 per cent, and ANZ at 12.4 per cent.
Collectively, the big four added almost $7 billion in lending to non-financial businesses between March and April, accounting for 67.5 per cent of net growth across the ADI sector.
Mixed fortunes among non-major lenders
Outside the major banks, international lenders continued to feature prominently among the largest providers of business credit, although performance varied across the group.
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation remained the largest non-major lender to non-financial businesses with a portfolio of $23.4 billion. However, balances declined by $251 million over the month (-1.1 per cent) and were down $2.6 billion over the year (-9.9 per cent).
Bank of China continued to expand its commercial lending book, reaching $23.1 billion after adding $225 million month on month (+1 per cent) and $2.6 billion year on year (+12.9 per cent).
Macquarie Bank increased its business lending portfolio to $22.6 billion, up $163 million over the month (+0.7 per cent) and $2.1 billion over the year (+10.3 per cent).
Rabobank Australia grew its non-financial business lending to $22.8 billion, adding $365 million from March (+1.6 per cent) and approximately $1 billion over the year (+4.7 per cent).
Japanese lenders MUFG Bank and Mizuho Bank rounded out the top 10. MUFG’s portfolio declined by $386 million over the month (-1.9 per cent) to $20 billion, although it remained $2.4 billion higher than a year earlier (+13.9 per cent).
Mizuho increased lending by $413 million from March (+2.3 per cent) to $18.6 billion and recorded annual growth of $2 billion (+12.2 per cent).
Home lending continues to climb
APRA’s April data also showed housing lending across the ADI sector continued to grow, with total residential mortgages reaching approximately $2.48 trillion, up around $11.8 billion over the month and $133.7 billion over the year.
The four major banks remained the dominant players in the market, accounting for roughly 73 per cent of all housing lending.
Commonwealth Bank remained Australia’s largest home lender, with its combined owner-occupier and investor portfolio reaching $627.5 billion. The bank added $3 billion over the month (+0.5 per cent) and $41.6 billion over the year (+7.1 per cent).
Westpac recorded the largest monthly increase among the majors, growing its mortgage book by $3.4 billion (+0.7 per cent) to $512.4 billion. Over the year, its housing portfolio expanded by $28.2 billion (+5.8 per cent).
National Australia Bank’s home loan portfolio reached $348.5 billion after increasing by $1.5 billion over the month (+0.4 per cent) and $18 billion year on year (+5.5 per cent).
ANZ’s mortgage book grew to $325.9 billion, up $1.7 billion from March (+0.5 per cent) and $11.6 billion over the year (+3.7 per cent).
Outside the majors, Macquarie Bank continued to build its position in the housing market, with its mortgage portfolio reaching $145.8 billion in April. The lender added $1.2 billion over the month (+0.8 per cent) and $11.9 billion over the year (+8.9 per cent), outpacing all four major banks on an annual growth basis.
Collectively, the major banks added approximately $9.7 billion in housing lending during April, continuing the steady expansion of residential mortgage balances across the sector.
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