Westpac Banking Corporation (WBK)

Profile

Exchange: NYSE       Sector: Financial       Industry: Foreign Money Center Banks

Westpac, is a multinational financial services, one of the Australian "big four" banks and the second-largest bank in New Zealand. Westpac Banking Corporation was founded in 1817 and was the first bank established in Australia. Westpac began trading on 8 April, 1817 as the Bank of New South Wales with a single office in Macquarie Place, Sydney. In 1982, with the merger of the Commercial Bank of Australia, it changed its name to Westpac Banking Corporation. On 23 August 2002, Westpac was registered as a public company limited by shares under the Australian Corporations Act (2001). In December 2008, Westpac merged with St.George Bank Limited. As at 30 September 2011, The Westpac Group employed approximately 38,000 people (full time equivalent basis) in Australia, New Zealand and around the world, and had global assets of $670 billion. For the financial year to 30 September 2011, The Westpac Group's reported net profit after income tax was $6,991 million. About 570,000 people and institutions in Australia and overseas are Westpac shareholders. Westpac Banking Corporation is headquartered in Sydney, Australia.