If you bought into Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares three years ago, you're likely pretty happy with your investment.
Three years ago, the big four bank's stock was just lifting off its COVID-19 lows.
At that point, a $7,000 investment probably would have seen one walking away with 405 shares, paying $17.22 apiece for $6,974.10.
Today, that parcel would sell for $8,343. The Westpac share price last traded at $20.60, 20% higher than it was three years ago.
For comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has gained 24% in that time.
But beyond share price gains, Westpac investors have also realised some decent dividends in the years since 2020. Let's take a look.
All dividends paid to those holding Westpac shares since 2020
Here are all the dividends handed to those invested in Westpac shares since June 2020:
| Westpac dividends' pay date | Type | Dividend amount |
| December 2022 | Final | 64 cents |
| June 2022 | Interim | 61 cents |
| December 2021 | Final | 60 cents |
| June 2021 | Interim | 58 cents |
| December 2020 | Final | 31 cents |
| Total: | $2.74 |
As the chart above shows, each Westpac share has yielded $2.74 of dividend income over the last three years.
That means our figurative parcel has likely provided $1,109.70 of passive income in that time, leaving our imagined investor realising a total return on investment (ROI) of around 36%.
Those returns might have been bolstered even more if one were to have reinvested their dividend income, perhaps using the bank's dividend reinvestment plan (DRP).
Not to mention, all dividends provided to Westpac shareholders since 2000 have been fully franked. Thus, they might have brought extra benefits to some shareholders come tax time.
Considering Westpac's 64-cent final dividend and its 61-cent interim dividend, shares in the bank currently boast a 6.5% dividend yield.
And investors don't have long to wait until its next offering. Westpac declared a 70-cent interim dividend last month. That will begin to hit shareholders' accounts later this month.
