ANZ reported a cash profit of A$1.73 billion for the three months to December, up from A$1.53 billion a year earlier, bolstered by double-digit growth in its institutional banking business in Singapore, China and Hong Kong.
Two analysts had forecast cash profit would climb to A$1.70 billion.
While banks reap the benefits of cost controls and record low interest rates, ANZ is aiming to set itself apart by pursuing a pan-Asian strategy and growing the proportion of earnings it gets outside Australia.