Australia's banks are some of the world's most profitable but they still cry poor, Greens MP and banking spokesperson Adam Bandt said today.

Responding to complaints by bank industry leaders, Mr Bandt said banks should not expect future government support in a downturn if they were neither prepared to pass on interest rate cuts nor willing to accept improved regulation.

"The big four made in excess of $25 billion last year. They are some of the most profitable in the world but they still cry poor," Mr Bandt said.

"They should be passing on any RBA cut announced next week."

"The banks assume the government will step in and bail them out because they're ‘too big to fail' so they resist stronger capital requirements."

"The banks complain about the cost of international funding, but happily accept the cheaper funds they get from lenders who expect the government will bail the bankers out if they ever get into trouble."

"With big banks just as profitable as before the GFC and increasingly less reliant on international funding, it's time they stopped crying poor."

"The government needs to stare down the banks. They certainly shouldn't go ahead with big business tax cuts that will net the big banks another $4 billion over the decade."