ANZ disappointed at National Bank rumours

Wednesday 2nd March 2011 1 Comment

ANZ New Zealand is disappointed that Finsec, the finance sector union, is spreading unsubstantiated claims that the National Bank of New Zealand branch network is being closed down.

ANZ owns both the ANZ and National Bank branch networks in New Zealand and competes with Westpac, and ASB, which is owned by Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

The National Business Review reported on Friday that ANZ was preparing to shut down its National Bank branch network within two months, citing industry sources. The one brand strategy was part of a super-regional strategy, it said.

Finsec said such a move would show contempt for bank staff and customers and all New Zealanders. Finsec is meeting with the bank tomorrow.

An ANZ spokeswoman said today that the bank had been clear that the issue would be "on the table at some stage because our licence from Lloyds Bank for use of the horse and National Bank green won't last forever". But it was not an issue for today.

ANZ New Zealand, including The National Bank brand, was New Zealand's largest bank with more branches, more ATMs and more staff supporting customers than any other bank and "that's the way we want things to stay".

"We are absolutely committed to maintaining ANZ New Zealand as the largest branch network in New Zealand with the largest number of people supporting our customers.

ANZ New Zealand had a programme at present to make its business more efficient. This involved moving to one IT system and streamlining management to make the ANZ and National Bank brands work better together.

NZPA

Comments from our readers

On 3 March 2011 at 9:58 pm Christopher said:

Long overdue...how silly to maintain branches almost next door to each other.Maybe the union rep hasn't been in a bank branch for a while otherwise they might have noticed how much space a branch no longer needs.