A massive class-action suit being taken against New Zealand's big four banks and Kiwibank was announced with much fanfare earlier this week.

Profits in the finance sector rocketed up last year despite New Zealand's sluggish economic growth with the banks making close to $3.7 billion.

Default provider arrangements for KiwiSaver do not encourage financial literacy and should be ditched, says state-owned Kiwibank.

Banks are slashing their long-term mortgage rates, with customers tied up for longer periods likely to save thousands.

A group of Auckland charities have quietly started lending money at zero interest rates to low-income families in a pilot project which may drive loan sharks out.

Banks have united to keep mum on how often they give customer details to police without a warrant.

Banks get daily requests from the police for personal banking information, and one says it is influenced by law enforcement interest when it assesses customers.

Homegrown lender Kiwibank could face an increase in its wholesale funding costs after being hit by a credit rating downgrade from Standard and Poor's.

How would you feel if someone muscled in front of you in the queue at the bank? How would you feel if the manager actually encouraged queue-jumping? Bernard Hickey looks at bank assets.

The four Australian-owned banks earn more out of NZ than banks in most other countries, but that's the price of a sound financial system, says Alan Bollard.