The second of Westpac's four Auckland business awards was a glitzy black tie affair last week, held at the Vodafone Events Centre and emceed by Frankie Stevens - whose jokes were on point as....

A $3 million test case between a motelier and Westpac over interest rate swaps was called off before a judge had the chance to decide the dispute.

A handful of farmers are refusing to settle or take a payout from the big banks that sold them controversial 'interest rate swaps'.

Westpac has retained the lucrative contract for the bulk of the Government's banking services.

Westpac's CEO is planning to invest an extra A$200m a year in digital initiatives to boost the bank's customer numbers, as well as drive down costs.

State-owned bank now offering six-month rates of 5.19 per cent - and 4.59 per cent for a two-year term.

Auckland could take another 86,400 dwellings in the next eight years without any risk of over-building.

The country's economic outlook may have softened but the Westpac Bank is still positive about its own situation, says its chief executive David McLean.

The rebuild has represented a large, if tragic, boost to demand, equivalent to nearly a fifth of a year's output for the New Zealand economy.

Reserve Bank may take interest rates to a new record low by October.

Things are still looking healthy for New Zealand's banks, despite a fall in lending margins at the start of this year.

Mortgage rates have dropped again. SBS Bank is offering a 4.85 per cent rate for an 18-month term - the lowest deal around.

New Zealand is enjoying 3.2 per cent economic growth and 0.1 per cent inflation, the statisticians tell us, but Bank of New Zealand economists warn we could see those numbers switch.

New Zealanders grew more downcast about the state of the labour market in the second quarter, with a softer outlook for wage growth weighing on confidence.

The former New Zealand boss of JPMorgan Chase will need to bring any claim against the bank in the District or High Court.

The account surplus was larger-than-expected in the first quarter as spending by tourists widened the services balance.

Westpac could join a mortgage-rate battle after Kiwibank and ANZ slashed their home loan rates.

KiwiSaver providers are struggling to move savers out of the default funds despite a requirement by the Government to give people more information on their choices.

ANZ Bank New Zealand, the country's biggest lender, was the most aggressive in pitching interest rate swaps to farmers, the Commerce Commission says.

BNZ cash earnings have risen 4.5 per cent in the six months ended March 31 to $418 million as growth in housing and business lending, and lower funding costs, drove up net interest income.

The home loan environment could be "as good as it gets" for borrowers, although the potential remains for mortgage rates to track even lower, says Westpac NZ CEO David McLean.

Variation in Chinese consumer appetite has the ability to create volatility in revenue and return for NZ business.

KiwiSaver assets have seen "phenomenal growth" in the past three months, increasing by $1.8 billion.

Westpac Group chief executive Brian Hartzer has embarked on a mission to transform the bank into a world-leading service company.

Profits were squeezed in New Zealand's banking sector during the final quarter of last year as non-interest income decreased and impaired asset expenses rose.

The lawyer heading up a legal fight against NZ's major banks over fees says he won't be throwing the towel in despite a ruling in favour of ANZ in Australia.