Westpac Fiji Building New Superbranch at Garden City
Westpac Fiji Chief Executive Kip Hanna this week joined with staff from the bank to visit the site of its new ‘superbranch’ at Garden City and announced that the branch would be opening early next year.
■Co■structio■ is underway on the 637 square metre branch which is in the new Garden City complex. “This new branch will be a first of its kind in Fiji; not only when it comes to the way it looks but the overall experience,” Mr Hanna said.
“We’ve been getting ideas from the team and from customers about what we need to work in or revise in the design to make it the best branch in Fiji.
“But we already know that it will have a 24/7 Business Express Deposit Machine, Cash/Coin change machine for our business customers, it will have self-service or selfassisted digital channels to enable simple customer activities, wheelchair/accessibility access and free wifi for customers.
“We decided on Garden City as a site because it will give customers two premium banking options in Suva – of course our main Thompson Street branch which was renovated in 2015 and Garden City for those on this side of the city.
“It’s still in early planning stages, but we’re also looking to open a branch like this for customers in the west too,” Mr Hanna said.
■Mr Hanna also took the chance to address employees following rumours last week that Westpac is selling its Fiji operations. “Our commitment to Fiji is solid and is on show right across the country.
“We are represented wherever there is business or industry; maintaining our 120+ year commitment to supporting Fiji’s economy and enterprises to grow.
“We have more than seventy ATM’s and 60 instore merchants representing Westpac in villages and urban centres.
“We are making the branch experience better, by raising our standards and educating people about branchless banking options – which reduces queues and gives our bankers time to help customers with more complex requests or advice.
“And we’re investing in technology, like our smartphone app. “Our reason for being in Fiji today is the same as when we opened the Suva branch doors for the first time back in 1901 – and that is to help grow the Fiji economy and support trade between Fiji, Australia, NZ and beyond.”