We Say/You Say: Bank Closures

Reporter Whangārei Leader

Hi neighbours,

How are you going to be impacted by changes in banking?

Mayors around the country have called on the government to intervene in bank closures around the country.

33 mayors around the country have signed an open letter to Jacinda Ardern asking her government to investigate the closures. The mayors stated that access to ATMs would not address the social harm and depravities for provincial and farming communities.

Last week, Kiwibank announced that it would close seven of its branches, with BNZ confirming it would close 38 branches nationwide.

BNZ Chief Customer Officer, Paul Carter, said three-quarters of their customers are digitally active.
“The majority of our customers are banking online and our talented bankers are often waiting in empty branches for customers that simply do not arrive,” he said.

BNZ customer Jasmine Polglase was more concerned for her grandparents, who banked with the BNZ.
“They don’t have a computer, like many elderly. But unlike my grandparents, some here don’t have family to do banking for them and help them navigate that sort of thing.”

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