Highlights

  • NAB outlines operational progress, governance focus and financial settings at its 2025 AGM.
  • Lending, deposits and business banking performance contribute to full-year results for FY25.
  • Leadership updates, technology initiatives and sustainability commitments frame priorities heading into 2026.

National Australia Bank (ASX:NAB) presented the Chair and CEO addresses at its 2025 Annual General Meeting in Melbourne. The Chair noted that 2025 marked the first full year of activity under the bank’s refreshed strategy, with progress observed across customer outcomes and organisational alignment.

He highlighted that colleague engagement remained in the top quartile, reflecting alignment with the bank’s ambition to operate as a customer-centric organisation. The address outlined continued work on building a simpler and more modern operational model, with improvements in controls, governance and risk management compared with five years earlier.

The Chair also referred to finalisation of the Enforceable Undertaking with AUSTRAC and reiterated the bank’s focus on maintaining constructive relationships with regulators. Payroll-related issues identified during the year have triggered a broader review into payments under historical and current agreements, with remediation underway.

Financial Settings, Shareholder Returns and Board Renewal
The Chair cited FY25 outcomes across each division and noted that balance sheet settings reflected a prudent posture. As at 30 September 2025, the Group retained a capital surplus above its Common Equity Tier 1 target of more than 11.25%.

Dividends declared for the year totalled 170 cents per share, accompanied by AUD 5.2 billion returned to shareholders. Since August 2021, the bank has completed AUD 8 billion in on-market buybacks and continues to neutralise its dividend reinvestment plan. The Chair reported a five-year total shareholder return of 190% to 30 September 2025.

CEO Highlights Lending, Deposits and Strategy Execution
The CEO detailed progress on the bank’s strategic priorities, including growth in business lending, deposit expansion and strengthening proprietary home lending. Australian business lending balances increased 9% across the year, including 5.8% in the second half, while customer deposits rose 7%.

Personal Banking reported higher cash earnings, supported by increased activity in proprietary home lending, which accounted for 41% of new home loans during FY25. The CEO also referenced investments in banker capability, tools and productivity.

Technology and fraud-prevention initiatives, including facial biometrics and Confirmation of Payee, contributed to the prevention or recovery of more than AUD 385 million in scam and fraud losses in 2025.

Economic Context, Sustainability Focus and Community Commitments
The CEO described an economic backdrop of improving private-sector activity, low unemployment and inflation closer to target than two years earlier. Forecasts anticipate GDP growth of around 2% in 2025 and 2.3% in 2026.

NAB’s sustainability focus includes climate transition, housing affordability and First Nations economic empowerment. Additional areas addressed included branch upgrades, support for disaster-affected communities and progress toward lending commitments for First Nations businesses.

Share Price Snapshot
NAB was trading 1.812% higher at AUD 42.130 per share as of 12 December 2025.