Despite another quarter of low inflation New Zealand does not need to worry about deflation hurting economic growth, ANZ senior economist

New Zealand banks paid out nearly $450,000 in the last year to settle disputes with their customers.

Profits across New Zealand's banks dipped in the June quarter driven in part by record lending outpacing funding.

Finalists for New Zealand International Business Awards have today been named.

As Australian banks face the political spotlight one bank boss offers a solution to customers who find switching too much bother.

The Kiwi boss of ANZ has pledged to look at cutting credit card rates at a parliamentary inquiry.

In just five years, more than 150 branches of NZ's major banks have disappeared, and more are earmarked to go the same way.

As more people do online transactions, small towns must adapt to closures.

New Zealand firms had a more positive outlook in September about both their own prospects and the wider economy.

The mayors of two towns facing the prospect of two major banks closing up shop within weeks of each other say people are shocked at

ANZ bank, the country's largest bank, could be closing branches around New Zealand.

ANZ has started to refund $28.8 million to more than 390,000 accounts after the bank failed to disclose when some fee payment fees would apply.

Auckland property developers fear that a sudden tightening of bank lending may "throttle" new housing projects despite the city's desperate housing shortage.

ASB has joined Westpac and ANZ in confirming it will exit investments with exposure to manufacturers of cluster munitions, landmines and nuclear weapons.

The Taranaki farmers bought controversial interest rate swaps from the bank.

The number of home loans and amount being borrowed has dipped ahead of further lending restrictions, but one mortgage broker says

Kiwibank is cutting 0.20 percentage points off its floating rate mortgages, while ANZ, ASB and Westpac will shave a smaller amount.

Westpac has now joined ANZ bank and cut mortgage rates after the Reserve Bank dropped the OCR this morning.

Helicopter rides and late night trips to hotels are par for the course for bankers to New Zealand's wealthiest.

Economists say the drop was largely seasonal, as construction remained positive.

The legal status of New Zealanders in Australia faces a test after Perth-based Kiwis Charles and Judith Cairns were granted leave

Australia's High Court has dismissed an appeal in a class action suit against fees charged by ANZ Bank.

NZ's banks have shrugged off global market turmoil and depressed dairy sector to make a net profit of $1.2 billion in the first three months of this year.

The Reserve Bank driven the exchange rate down after it signalled a likely cut in the cash rate next month and raised possibility of further reduction.

WATCH: Liam Dann talks to economist Christina Leung and fund manager Matthew Goodson about lending restrictions.

All four big banks are now applying new lending restrictions to home loans - six weeks ahead of the Reserve Bank's official September deadline.

COMMENT: If the Government needed another wake-up call it's got one.

A top banker's dire warning about Auckland's house prices shows there is a "complete crisis" in the property market, economist Shamubeel Eaqub says.

The chief executive of New Zealand's largest bank has warned that the property market may face a "messy end".

ANZ faces three separate High Court claims from farmers who bought controversial financial products from the country's largest bank.