National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares are edging lower today.
Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) bank stock closed yesterday trading for $40.42. In morning trade on Thursday, shares are changing hands for $40.26 apiece, down 0.2%.
For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.2% at this same time.
That's today's price action for you.
Now, here's how NAB is working to strengthen its business lending arm.
NAB shares aim to hold their business lending edge
Amid fierce ongoing competition in Australia's mortgage lending, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) have both been working to boost their business lending, which tends to offer higher profit margins.
If they're successful, that could put NAB shares under pressure as the bank has traditionally been the leader in business lending.
In response, NAB announced this morning that it is targeting growth in the medium and large business segments. The bank said it is expanding a specialist team of bankers to originate deals and "support a seamless customer experience".
The new group will bring together expert business bankers from across NAB's business & private banking and corporate & institutional banking teams.
The team will focus on new opportunities in the growing medium and large business segments for the bank. A support team will also help to fast-track customer approvals, simplify onboarding, and bring whole-of-bank solutions to NAB's customers.
The overall idea it to reduce the complexity for customers and bankers, which NAB said can often accompany larger transactions.
What did management say?
Commenting on the new specialist team that's intended to support NAB shares over time, corporate & institutional banking executive Cathryn Carver said, "There is no area more important to us and our customers than business banking, our heartland."
Carter continued:
While competition has intensified in recent years, we've made it very clear that we're focussed on extending our market leadership.
We're taking the best business banking capability from across NAB and creating a team that will be the cornerstone of what being the most customer-centric company in Australia and New Zealand looks like.
NAB business & private banking executive Andrew Auerbach said, "One in three agribusinesses and one in four SME businesses bank with NAB."
Auerbach added:
With this expansion, we believe we can help meet the ambitions of even more medium and large businesses in Australia. By combining specialist sector expertise, deep local relationships and the full breadth of NAB's balance sheet, we're delivering faster, more coordinated support to our customers.
With today's intraday moves factored in, NAB shares are up 8.2% in 2025.
