"iii) Funding Retail deposits continue to be Auswide Bank’s...

"iii) Funding Retail deposits continue to be Auswide Bank’s largestsource of funding, recording growth of $180m comparedto the prior corresponding period, increasing from$3.248 billion at 31 December 2022 to $3.428 billionat 31 December 2023."

The above quote is straight out of the HY24 report. This tends to indicate that they are not as reliant on international funding for their loan book as you indicate. They have in the past also indulged in funding through wholesale securitisation although comments in this report indicate that they are also less reliant on that funding source now. The regional banks have stronger customer loyalty according to the customer satisfaction scores they claim and they seem to have stronger ties to their local communities. Many have arisen from community building societies and co-ops and have retained the old relationships they had. What they have not got is the major commercial relationships and the diversity it offers which is where the big five (I incl MQG) can gain the margins and fees based on sheer volume. I do not think that what is currently happening should put them at a 10 year low. Maybe I am biased as I worked in the industry for a small bank and its finance company arm which was taken over by one of the big 4 in the 1970s. I got out and bought a business of my own to retire at 46.