The Commonwealth Bank (CBA) has posted a statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) of $10.13 billion for FY25, up 7% on FY24, supported by lending volume growth, stable net interest margins and lower loan impairment expenses.
“This year we have continued to execute our strategic priorities, maintain strong operational performance and deliver consistently for our customers and shareholders,” CEO Matt Comyn said. “The operating context has been characterised by a rise in global macroeconomic uncertainty, increased geopolitical risk and continued domestic competitive intensity.”
CBA declared a final dividend of $2.60 per share, fully franked, taking the full-year dividend to $4.85 per share, up 4% on FY24.
“We maintain prudent balance sheet settings over the long term so we can withstand uncertainty and volatility in the short term,” Comyn said. “Our strong financial position enables us to continue supporting our customers, investing for the future and delivering sustainable returns for our shareholders.”
The bank’s return on equity was 13.5%, while the Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital ratio was 12.3%, well above regulatory requirements.
Comyn said the bank had maintained its focus on supporting customers, particularly those facing cost-of-living pressures.
“Pleasingly, many households have seen a rise in disposable incomes due to the recent relief from reduced interest rates, lower inflation, and tax cuts,” he said.
He added that CBA was accelerating its technology modernisation agenda to improve customer experience and security.
“We remain the main financial institution for one in three Australian consumers and one in four Australian businesses,” Comyn said. “With persistently high levels of fraud, scams, cyber threats and financial crime it is critical that we become a simpler, safer and better bank.”
Comyn noted that despite global uncertainty, the Australian economy remained resilient.
“Even though sentiment remains subdued, we expect economic growth to improve modestly as the year progresses,” the CBA boss said.
“We will play our part to help the nation prosper by lending to productive parts of the economy, advocating for national policy settings that help build a brighter future for all Australians and maintaining conservative financial settings that ensure we are well prepared for a range of economic scenarios.”
CBA also announced a multi-year strategic partnership with OpenAI, becoming the tech firm’s strategic banking partner in Australia.
The collaboration will focus on generative AI solutions to strengthen scam and fraud detection and deliver more personalised services.
“To be globally competitive, Australia must embrace this new era of rapid technological change,” Comyn said.
“Our strategic partnership with OpenAI reflects our commitment to bringing world class capabilities to Australia, and exploring how AI can enhance customer experiences, better protect our customers, and unlock new opportunities for Australian businesses.
“Equipping our people with the most advanced AI tools and capability is a key objective of this strategic partnership. We will continue to invest in our people and their AI proficiency so they can better support our customers, while building their skills and experience.”
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said, “CommBank is one of Australia’s largest institutions, serving millions of people and businesses every day. We’re excited to work together to put advanced AI into the hands of more Australians, making it more useful and impactful for people and businesses across the country.”
For more information, visit the CBA Newsroom.
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