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The latest Monthly Authorised Deposit-taking Institution Statistics from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) showed Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s (CBA) loans to non-financial businesses increased by $2.7 billion over July (+1.1 per cent) to $247.7 billion.
National Australia Bank (NAB) remained Australia’s largest lender to non-financial businesses, with its portfolio increasing by $1.8 billion (+0.6 per cent) to $276.5 billion.
The gap between the two banks stood at $28.8 billion at the end of July, with CBA’s business lending portfolio equivalent to 89.6 per cent of NAB’s.
A year earlier, CBA’s portfolio was equivalent to 87.2 per cent of NAB’s, while the relative gap stood at 12.8 per cent.
In July 2019, CBA’s business lending portfolio was equivalent to 75.9 per cent of NAB’s, with the relative gap at 24.1 per cent.
CBA has also recorded faster annual growth than NAB, with its business lending portfolio increasing by $30.3 billion over the past year (+13.9 per cent), compared with a $27.2 billion increase for NAB (+10.9 per cent).
Business lending slows, but remains at record highs
Lending to non-financial businesses increased by $7.0 billion over July (+0.6 per cent) to reach a record $1.27 trillion.
The increase was below the record $19.3 billion rise recorded in June (+1.55 per cent), as well as the $11.5 billion increase recorded over July 2025.
Despite the slower monthly growth, total lending to non-financial businesses was $115.8 billion higher than a year earlier, representing annual growth of 10.0 per cent.
The business lending portfolio has increased by more than $500 billion since July 2019, rising from $765.1 billion to $1.27 trillion.
The four major banks accounted for $892.5 billion of lending to non-financial businesses at the end of July, representing around 70 per cent of the total business lending market.
All four majors recorded an increase in business lending over the month, with CBA recording the largest dollar increase.
Westpac’s business lending portfolio increased by $508.6 million (+0.2 per cent) over July to $210.4 billion, while annual growth reached $24.2 billion (+13.0 per cent).
ANZ recorded the strongest monthly growth rate among the majors, with lending increasing by $2.2 billion (+1.4 per cent) to $157.8 billion.
Its portfolio was $8.2 billion higher than a year earlier, representing annual growth of 5.5 per cent.
Combined, the four major banks increased their business lending portfolios by $7.2 billion over July, compared with a $90.0 billion increase over the previous 12 months.
Mixed results among the next 5
Rabobank Australia remained the largest lender outside the major banks, with its business lending portfolio standing at $23.8 billion at the end of July.
The lender’s portfolio fell by $997.2 million over the month (-4.0 per cent), although it remained $700.5 million higher than a year earlier (+3.0 per cent).
Bank of China was the sixth-largest business lender, with its portfolio increasing by $105.6 million (+0.4 per cent) over July to $23.7 billion.
The bank recorded annual growth of $3.8 billion (+19.2 per cent).
Macquarie Bank remained the seventh-largest lender, despite a $257.7 million decline in business lending over July (-1.1 per cent) to $22.5 billion.
Its portfolio was $2.0 billion higher than a year earlier, representing annual growth of 9.6 per cent.
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation recorded another monthly decline, with its business lending portfolio falling by $597.3 million (-2.7 per cent) to $21.5 billion.
The bank’s portfolio was $5.2 billion lower than a year earlier, representing a 19.5 per cent decline.
MUFG Bank rounded out the top nine lenders, with business lending increasing by $295.7 million (+1.4 per cent) over July to $21.5 billion.
Its portfolio was $3.7 billion higher than a year earlier, representing annual growth of 20.9 per cent.
[Related: Business lending growth hits 6-year high]
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