Two of New Zealand's largest banks will this week be served court papers over claims they charged more than 41,600 customers unfair penalty fees.

Westpac New Zealand says it is gearing up to release a world first banking app that will allow customers to view their account details in 3D.

BNZ's head of migrant banking, Frank Cui, reckons he has a pretty good grasp of the challenges immigrants face when building a new life in NZ.

When it releases its monetary policy statement on Thursday the Reserve Bank is expected to turn up the volume on its warning that it is preparing to remove the support of ultra-low interest rates in place since the recession.

BNZ boss Andrew Thorburn has made more than $400,000 from selling shares in the bank's parent company National Australia Bank (NAB).

The banking ombudsman has had 10 complaints about the loan-to-value-ratio (LVR) changes introduced on October 1, with eight related to banks withdrawing prior approvals.

The number of first home buyers in the market since the introduction of new Reserve Bank mortgage restrictions last month has plummeted, real estate agents are reporting.

The kiwi is expected to appreciate further against the Australian after the cross rate hit a near five-year high this week.

A comparison of some recent economic data shows New Zealand outperforming Australia.

A prospectus for the Mad Butcher's back door listing is expected to be out next week...