The curriculum of the unit Fundamentals of Bank Management is focused on the financial institution environment, the financial statements of banks and measuring their overall performance. An understanding of the different risk areas that banks are exposed to and the application of different financial models and methodology to manage these risks are regarded as important learning outcomes. Within this context, it is a well-known fact that financial institutions like banks have to manage their balance sheets and income statements to generate a return on assets and return on equity – similar to any other type of business. The exception is that banks act as financial intermediaries and therefore they differ from other businesses in terms of asset and liability structures, income generation and cost of capital.

The purpose of the assignment is to expose students to real published financial information of three banks in the countries where the students are studying this unit in order to enable them to integrate the theory in the unit material with the real application of it in the banking industry.

The lecturers at the different campuses will confirm the three banks and the specific year of annual reports of the banks that students have to retrieve for completion of the assignment. Australian Banks (Bank 1, ANZ / Bank 2, Commonwealth / Bank 3, Westpac) In addition to the published annual reports of the banks, students can use internet, text books, journal papers and newspaper articles to substantiate their answers.

The assignment assessment is conducted with a rubric. It provides students with a guideline of all aspects that will be considered during the marking of the assignment answers and the marks allocated to the different aspects.

The use of relevant information (20%): Identifies and appropriately uses a wide range of relevant information and/or data regarding specific aspects about bank assets that students are required to address.

Application of discipline knowledge (20%): Applies appropriate practices, principles, and theories to discuss and explain the purpose, importance, monetary size, risks, hedging, and income of different types of bank assets in an integrated manner that relates complex issues and is evident of very good knowledge.

Addressing of required issues (20%): The purpose, importance, monetary size, risks, hedging, and income of different types of bank assets to be considered critically is stated clearly and described comprehensively (delivering all relevant information necessary for a full understanding).

Evidence based Analysis (20%): A coherent analysis regarding the purpose, importance, monetary size, risks, hedging, and income of different types of bank assets is based on complete use of all relevant information, concepts, and methods The information analysed is gathered from many diverse, high-quality source(s) beyond those provided.

Perspective (10%): The perspective about the purpose, importance, monetary size, risks, hedging, and income of different types of bank assets is comprehensive taking into account all of the complexities of the issues. Others’ perspectives are completely analysed and synthesised. The limits of the position are completely acknowledged.

Conclusions and/or Recommendations (10%): Draws conclusions and/or recommendations which follows logically from the analysis and development of both explicit and implicit elements evident in the topic.

The assignment answers should not exceed 2000 words and the Chicago referencing style should be applied.