The big four banks' combined earnings are likely to exceed $31 billion in 2017, supported by their moves earlier this year to target property investors with higher interest rates.

ANZ Bank, Westpac and National Australia Bank, who will unveil profit results over the next three weeks, are also expected to demonstrate banks are continuing to reap the benefits of historically low charges for bad loans, despite a soft economy and risks lurking in the housing market.

ANZ will this week kick off a round of annual results from banks, with analysts predicting it will deliver earnings of close to $7 billion on Thursday, when it delivers its results for the year to September 30.

National Australia Bank's result, forecast to be about $6.6 billion, will be handed down next week, with Westpac's earnings forecast to be about $8 billion the following week.