Bendigo lifts profit despite competition

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank has lifted its full-year cash earnings 6.4 per cent to $445.1 million in a result helped by wider margins in a competitive lending environment.

The regional-focused lender, Australia's fifth-biggest bank, lifted statutory net profit 1.1 per cent to $434.5 million for the year ending June 30 with operating income up 2.1 per cent to $1.64 billion.

Bendigo Bank declared a final dividend of 35 cents, fully franked, up 1 cent on the previous year.

AAP