BNZ Bank chief executive Andrew Thorburn. Photo / Janna Dixon
Bank of New Zealand, the local unit of National Australia Bank, had a decline in third-quarter earnings, reflecting an increase in the charge for bad debts, which dropped to an "unusually low" level in the prior quarter.
The lender didn't give details of the decline in BNZ's earnings or the
magnitude of the decline in the three months ended June in parent NAB's statement to the ASX. The increase was "primarily due to an increase in the charge for B&DDs (bad and doubtful debts) on business exposures from relatively low levels in the first half", the bank said.
BNZ said local customer deposits "grew strongly" in the quarter. The bank had retail deposits of some $33.5 billion as at March 31.
BNZ chief executive Andrew Thorburn told BusinessDesk in May the impairment charge on bad debt fell to an "unusually low" $34 million as at March 31.
The increased charge on bad debts bucked the group trend for NAB, which reported a 7 per cent decline in impairments to A$524 million in the quarter. The parent reported a net profit of A$1.2 billion in the latest three months, with revenue down about 1 per cent.
