Waimate ANZ branch could close by December
Waimate may Christmas.
Losing its ANZ - one of three banks in the town - could signal a downward slide for services in rural New Zealand, Waimate District Mayor Craig Rowley says.
ANZ has confirmed it could close the Waimate branch within two months, subject to consultation with staff.
Rowley said the closure would have a ‘‘huge impact’’ on residents, branch staff and their families. lose a bank by
However, ANZ corporate affairs senior manager external communications Stefan Herrick said the number of customer visits had declined to the point ‘‘where we consider it is no longer viable to keep the branch open’’.
‘‘We are proposing to close the branch, and are consulting with staff on the future of their roles and their potential options should the branch close,’’ Herrick said.
‘‘If we close Waimate branch, all staff will be offered roles elsewhere in the bank and we will install a Smart ATM in Waimate.
‘‘The planned closure date of the branch, subject to consultations with staff, is November 18.’’
Rowley worried the closure was part of a bigger picture: ’’Is it the start of a downward slide for rural New Zealand with a lot of these services?’’
His council used the branch, but many residents would also be affected if it closed, particularly those who could not access the internet, Rowley said.
If the branch closed, the nearest ANZ branches were in Timaru, Oamaru or Twizel.
Last week, Westpac announced it would close 19 of its branches including one in Fairlie, despite resident’s protests against the closure.
Then, entreaties from Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean and the Mackenzie District Council could not stop the closure.
Waimate District Resource Trust and Heartlands Service coordinator Jakki Guilford said closure would have a devastating impact.
Many people who had poor internet and poor transport options would be isolated, Guilford said.
‘‘The only option will be to close their account.’’
Herrick said the banking preferences had changed and most ANZ customers chose to do day-today banking via internet or mobile banking.
‘‘The average ANZ customer uses mobile banking one to two times a day, and visits a branch only two times a year,’’ Herrick said. ANZ staff at the branch or contact centre could help customers set up internet banking, mobile banking or arrange an ATM card, he said.
Kiwibank and BNZ also have branches in Waimate.