Also published in Crikey! as well as The Sheet. Commonwealth Bank’s stockbroking business Commsec may face a bigger challenge this year to its leadership of the online broking market as competitors Westpac and National Australia Bank market have upgraded online trading platforms. With listed company IWL buying Westpac’s online broking partner JDV last year, National and Westpac now both have the same company running the back end of their broking platforms. By 2007, Westpac and National will be operating on […]

Change of tack for Adelaide in the mortgage market By Ed Charles Adelaide bank has emphasised its commitment to achieving a five per cent share of the home loan market through the introduction of innovative products while increasing its margins through better use of technology.

By Ed Charles It’s been a frantic start to the year for the number three online broking company Etrade Australia, a firm in which ANZ Bank owns a 34 per cent stake.

Assuming Great Southern sustains its growth rate of 50 per cent, the plantation company will be seeking funding from Adelaide Bank of in excess of $300 million in the 2005/2006 year.Most of the people becoming “growers” with Great Southern are referred by their accountants or financial advisers and are hoping to minimise tax while investing. For example, a person in the top tax bracket who invested the minimum $3000 (plus GST) in a plantation would be able to finance it […]

Great Southern Plantations is one of the fastest growing banks that you’ve never heard of.For the most part of the “noughties” Great Southern has been writing loans to plantation growers as part of an attractive tax-based investment scheme, which has a product ruling from the Australian Taxation Office.The company is not actually a bank, but rather a forestry company. Great Southern also does a lot of lending, and takes decisions about which loans are funded by its partner in this […]