The Commonwealth Bank (CBA) revealed a record $5.45 billion cash profit for the first half of the year. Investor demand for housing loans soared, now making up 43% of new loans, up from 37% two years ago. The bank settles over 3,000 housing loans weekly. Property prices are at or near record highs in much of Australia. Lending to owner-occupiers has decreased as a share of the loan book. Investors often win bidding battles against first-time buyers, boosting the wealth gap between generations. CBA shares jumped over 7% following the earnings release. CEO Matt Comyn said home loan balances rose 7% to $622 billion in a year, with 97% of borrowers holding CBA transaction accounts. Cash profit grew 6% from last year, beating forecasts. The bank announced an interim dividend of $2.35 per share, up 10 cents from last year. Mortgage arrears dropped as a percentage of the portfolio after last year's rate cuts and tax breaks eased pressure. However, arrears remain elevated and the effect of last week’s rate hike is still pending. The Finance Sector Union criticized the bank's rising profits, highlighting staff worries over job security linked to offshoring and AI automation. Nationally, investor loans are booming. The Australian Bureau of Statistics shows investors received 60,445 loans worth nearly $43 billion in late 2025, surpassing loans to owner-occupiers and nearly doubling first home buyer loans. Despite recent rate hikes, loan accessibility remains high. RBA Deputy Governor Andrew Hauser admitted credit growth may have been underestimated and welcomed new borrowing limits introduced in February to control risky lending. He called the measures “smart design,” warning banks to watch credit growth carefully.