A massive class-action suit being taken against New Zealand's big four banks and Kiwibank was announced with much fanfare earlier this week.

Kiwi bank customers are being stung by significantly higher default fees than their Australian counterparts but some say banks across the Tasman are undercharging.

Prime Minister John Key says he would be amazed if any surprises emerged from former Solid Energy chief executive Don Elder's appearance before a select committee tomorrow.

Both of the men who steered state coal miner Solid Energy to the brink of financial ruin will tomorrow face MPs questions about their oversight and management of the company.

An Auckland woman says she is owed $10,000 in excessive bank default fees after she was not able to meet her mortgage repayments during a time of financial hardship.

The NZIER shadow board thinks on balance the Reserve Bank should keep the official cash rate on hold at 2.5 per cent tomorrow, but compared with six weeks ago there is less support for a cut and more for a hike.

ANZ's Truckometer indicator is pointing to a tepid start to the year and a risk of recent history repeating, where short-term surges in momentum are followed by a slump.

Andrew Hooker won't say who he banks with but isn't worried that the billion-dollar legal case he is taking against New Zealand's major banks will force him to stash his cash under a mattress.

A director of a failed finance company delayed his sentencing so he could go on holiday to Fiji over the Christmas break, says the Crown.

The FMA's Diane Maxwell will be stepping across into the role of Retirement Commissioner for three months.

More than 10,000 people have registered to join a billion dollar legal case against New Zealand's major banks in less than 24 hours.

The Reserve Bank of Australia's computer systems have fallen victim to cyber hacking in at least two sophisticated online attacks.

A banking expert says a bid to take a billion-dollar class-action lawsuit against New Zealand's banks is ambitious and the amount claimable appears to be inflated.

Former Hanover director Mark Hotchin wants two trustee companies to contribute to any damages he may need to pay if he loses a civil action against him.

New Zealand banks face what is expected to be the biggest class suit the country has seen over $1 billion in default fees claimed by lenders over the past six years.

The financial markets see no chance the Reserve Bank will raise the official cash rate on Thursday, so their focus will be on how the accompanying monetary policy statement describes the balance of risks going forward.

There are certain periods when your account balance will fall. When that happens, stick with it.

The Commerce Commission has released a full report from its investigation into the sale and promotion of Credit Sails notes.