Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean wants assurances Cromwell’s BNZ bank staff will be taken care of, after yesterday's news announced the branch will close next year. 

BNZ will close 38 branches over the next seven months, despite an earlier commitment not to shut any regional branches until at least 2022.

Eight branches will close on Christmas Eve. Another 14 will close between February and March, including Cromwell.

A further 16 will close between April and June.

Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean said BNZ's decision to close its Cromwell branch will be unsettling for staff and the communities affected.

"I was told this morning about the impending closures of the Cromwell, Geraldine and Waimate branches and have sought further clarification from bank executives.

"I was particularly surprised given that last year BNZ committed to not closing any branches until 2022.

"While I accept that banking services are being delivered in different ways, there will undoubtedly be an impact on elderly residents, businesses and others who rely on the personal service offered in a branch.

"I have sought assurances from bank executives that BNZ will take care of the staff involved and will continue to provide customers in Cromwell, Geraldine and Waimate with an accessible service once the branches have closed."

Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean has written to executives of BNZ, and wants to know if BNZ will take care of its local staff. 

Last year, BNZ's chief customer officer Paul Carter said it was committed to keeping all regional branches open until at least 2022 and wanted to be accessible to all customers.

In a statement to media he said the pandemic had somewhat altered plans.

“We don’t take this decision lightly,” Paul said. “We made our commitment on regional branches in good faith. 

“Not only was it a commitment to the communities we serve, it was also a commitment to our people, as closing a branch used to mean losing jobs.

“However, COVID changed everything. 

“Our customers have embraced digital services and tools and our bankers are serving customers irrespective of where they are. 

“We’ve shown we can work from anywhere and there are job opportunities for all our people - it reflects the ongoing shift in how our customers are choosing to bank with us.”

He said the pandemic had accelerated trends that had been seen for some time. About three-quarters of customers were “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.

“Branches will still have a role in how we serve our customers. 

“We will continue to invest in modern customer centres to help customers take advantage of online banking and our digital tools, and where they can access specialist services.”

He said BNZ would work with the bankers in the branches affected to find new opportunities within the bank. 

Paul said every affected employee would be offered another position.

“We’ve given ourselves a long runway before closing our regional branches so we can support the small number of customers that regularly use these locations to adopt alternative ways of banking.

“Our mobile branch, Mobile BNZ, worked well in the Manawatu-Whanganui and Northland regions bringing banking services and financial support to remote communities, and we will be adding additional vehicles to our fleet to enable more communities to receive financial support.”

Paul said a review recommended a change to its branch network as well as a consolidation of its workforce.

“Our people have embraced the flexibility of remote working,” he said. “It suits our customers and our people and changes to our office space reflect that.”

Images courtesy BNZ.

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