Bendigo and Adelaide Bank (BEN) AGM 2026 summary

Opening remarks and agenda

• Quorum confirmed; AGM opened with all resolutions to be decided by poll, with voting open throughout the meeting.

• Traditional owners of the meeting lands were acknowledged, including the Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung peoples of the Kulin Nation.

• Shareholders could participate in person or online; eligible ordinary shareholders were those registered at 7:00 p.m. AEDT on 16 October 2026.

Financial performance review

• FY26 cash earnings rose 3% YoY to AUD 530.2m; revenue grew 5.1% to AUD 2.046bn and operating expenses increased 4.2% to AUD 1.26bn.

• Net interest margin increased 7 bps to 1.95%; return on equity improved to 8.01% from 7.34% in FY25.

• CET1 ratio was 11.34% at 30 June 2026, above the board target; household deposits-to-loans ratio remained well above major-bank average.

• FTE numbers fell 3.4% over FY26; second-half expenses were lower, while management aims for revenue growth to outpace expense growth.

Board and executive committee updates

• Christopher Dean joined as Chief Customer Officer, Consumer Banking in October 2026, bringing more than two decades of banking and wealth-management experience.

• Margaret Payn sought re-election, citing board and committee experience and an intent to contribute to strategy and risk remediation over the next three years.

• Payn was re-elected; pre-meeting direct and proxy votes were 90.93% for, 7.59% against and 1.48% open.