Westpac Banking (WBC) Q4 2025 Earnings Report

Westpac demonstrated strong growth in deposits and business lending, and launched significant digital innovations. However, the company faced challenges with decreased net profit, increased expenses, and delays in the UNITE program. Customer and brand advocacy continue to require attention.

During Westpac's Full Year 2025 Results Briefing, the company provided guidance on various financial metrics and strategic initiatives. Net profit, excluding notable items, decreased by 2% to $7 billion, while statutory net profit fell by 1% to $6.9 billion. The return on tangible equity experienced a slight contraction, partly cushioned by a share buyback. The cost-to-income ratio rose to 53% due to higher expenses driven by their transformation agenda, although efforts under the Fit for Growth program aim to offset this in FY '26. The Board declared a second half dividend of $0.77, contributing to a full-year dividend of $1.53 per share, equating to a payout ratio of 75% of profit after tax, excluding notable items. The company continues to focus on streamlining operations through the UNITE program, with an investment of $660 million in FY '25, slightly above guidance, and plans to invest between $850 million and $950 million in FY '26. Westpac also highlighted improvements in customer service metrics, such as a 30% reduction in financial market clients' time to trade in the Commercial division and a 21% decline in reported customer scam losses, thanks to new initiatives like SafeCall and SafeBlock. Additionally, the company sees promising growth in consumer deposits, which grew by 10%, supported by their award-winning banking app and competitive product suite.