Banks are going into battle for new customers with free tablet computers, contributions to house painting and cash handouts all up for grabs.

Live Chat - send in your questions for Kirk Hope, chief exec of the NZ Bankers' Association...

New Zealand's mostly Australian-owned banks are not as profitable as they appear, despite very strong earnings, the NZ Bankers Association says.

is interesting times in economics and politics. The big ideas are simply not there.

See a reply of our live chat about property and real estate with Wendy Alexander, chief executive of real estate agency Barfoot & Thompson.

The China Private Banking Report 2012, by China Minsheng Bank and McKinsey, surveyed 700 Chinese with more than $1.2 million in investable assets.

ANZ's New Zealand boss has received an 11 per cent boost to his pay package mainly driven by an increase in rights to own more shares in the bank.

Striking Northland ratepayers could soon find their banks have effectively paid the council's bill from their accounts.

But a systemically important bank may not be allowed to fail in future, says S&P.

Better attitudes towards saving and debt reduction in New Zealand are being driven by fear and are unsustainable, says the head of a major bank.

Bill English has defended banks against accusations from one of his own MPs that they are "gouging" customers with high overdraft rates, especially for farmers.

The New Zealand dollar gained after a report proposed giving Greece two more years to meet budget targets.