Macquarie Bank tops percentage gains; majors dominate overall expansion
Eight of Australia’s 10 largest authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADIs) expanded their loan portfolios during the June 2025 reporting period, according to new data from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) analysed by market research agency Agile Market Intelligence.
Macquarie Bank recorded the strongest percentage growth among the top 10, with a 2.31% rise in its total loan book. Collectively, the group’s loan balances grew by more than $15 billion, with the four major banks accounting for about 70% of that increase.
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) posted the largest dollar gain, adding $4.71 billion in loans over the month. Westpac and National Australia Bank (NAB) each expanded their lending by more than $2.4 billion, while Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) grew its portfolio by $1.55 billion.
CBA now holds the largest share of housing loans at 25%, followed by Westpac at 21%. NAB and ANZ each account for approximately 14% of total housing loans.
“The big four are still setting the tone for the market,” said Michael Johnson, director at Agile Market Intelligence. “Their capacity to grow in both housing and business lending, even in a flat economic cycle, reinforces their competitive moat.”
Among non-major lenders, Macquarie Bank led in percentage growth, while ING followed with a 1.57% increase, adding over $1 billion to its loan book. Suncorp and HSBC each reported gains of about 0.65%, maintaining steady growth over the past year.
“Mid-tier lenders are proving that consistent, disciplined growth can steadily chip away at the majors’ dominance,” Johnson said. “It’s a long game, but the strategies are starting to pay off.”
Owner-occupied housing loans make up the majority of balances across the top 10 ADIs. For the major banks, these loans represent about two-thirds of their portfolios. Macquarie, HSBC and Bank of Queensland have similar proportions, while other top 10 ADIs are even more heavily weighted toward owner-occupied lending.
“Portfolio composition tells you a lot about a lender’s risk appetite and strategic priorities,” Johnson pointed out. “The split between owner-occupied and investment lending is as much a competitive lever as pricing or service.”
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