Is anyone else of the opinion as I am that Westpac should shut up shop as a bank and get into selling banana smoothies as they did such a great job selling the public on how a banking compares to selling banana smoothies.
Since this in 2009 they have tread water with a market cap of ~$77Billion vs ~$75Billion today. Back then they were the equal of CBA after purchasing St George, today they are less half the size. (CBA ~$162Billion) As a Westpac customer it is clearly evident where they have lost the plot. Try and borrow money from Westpac and they will only do so if you have assets (I.e. brick & mortar) to leverage, taking on risk and pricing loans accordingly is non-existent. This a clearly lazy banking and they are the LAZY bank.
I was of the opinion that banking was about risk mitigation and that personal and business loans should be assessed and priced on a risk basis, with higher margins for more risky loans, of course within pre-defined parameters Unfortunately, this is not the case and Westpac is so risk adverse that it has forgotten what banking is about, is it not time for a rethink of leadership at the top?
If you deal with CBA you will note there approach is more tailored, incorporates a little risk, is priced accordingly and as such profits and it market cap has been rewarded accordingly. Why I am still banking with Westpac, frankly no idea.
Not even Westpac would lend Westpac money to start a Banana Smoothie stall based on value appreciation, unless of course they mortgage all their properties and they may qualify, nah to risky.
WBC Price at posting:
$21.80 Sentiment: Sell Disclosure: Not Held
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