BNZ Pahiatua closes permanently
The cornerstone of Pahiatua commerce, the BNZ Pahiatua branch, is to close permanently on September 7. This follows the closure of the ANZ Bank in Pahiatua on December 8 last year.
Facebook comments were mixed: Dominic Fou: In process of changing banks, buggar BNZ! Roselynn Waldman: Just another kick in the guts for rural towns. Ann Elers: And so it goes a small town needed by many is screwed over with another bank closure and those who can’t travel very far are dumped on again. Irene Malins: It will make it harder for the older people. Judy Wesche: I’m 72+ and have had to learn how to do banking via my phone since April, it has had its moments, but I have mastered it now thank goodness lol. Lesley Glassey: Oh hell you will all have to join the tramping club and trek over Pahiatua Track! Trudy Robinson: Gosh if you want to borrow money for mortgage I suppose you would get a mortgage broker in Bugger.
Ange McHardy, retail regional manager, East Coast, Bank of New Zealand, paid tribute to BNZ’s Pahiatua staff who’ve supported their customers over the years, especially since the reduction in store hours in December 2016.
“Our two Pahiatua staff are considering redeployment in the region,” she says.
The BNZ Partners agribusiness and business team will continue to work with their customers in Pahiatua.
A Smart ATM for cash and cheque deposits, plus withdrawals will be retained in Pahiatua.
“In recent years there’s been a significant decline in demand for in-store banking services at BNZ Pahiatua,” said Ms McHardy.
Pahiatua business woman and Tararua District councillor Alison Franklin said that sadly the closure is a “sign of the times”.
“I’m not shocked, but disappointed. This is just another blow for a small community like ours,” she said.
Ms Franklin and her husband Graeme own the Blackstump Bar and Cafe and Harrows Restaurant in Pahiatua and bank with the BNZ, but she said they know full well only 4 per cent of their takings go through their till as cash.
However, Ms Franklin said she feels for the elderly and those living in isolated, rural areas.
“With the lack of connectivity, online banking is difficult,” she said. “But we’re heading towards a cashless society.”
Pahiatua’s Shirley Hull, a Tararua District councillor, said the BNZ had been an important institution in Pahiatua and well used by Woodville and Eketa¯ huna residents as well as through traffic.
“Folk who transferred accounts to the BNZ when
ANZ shut will be feeling slighted,” she said.
“I know the story line from the bank was that it was under-utilised, but very short hours would account for some of that. I visited the bank during what I would deem acceptable banking hours, only to find it closed for lunch, a time many would visit.”
Ms Hull said she understood the impact of online services.
“But I very recently visited the BNZ because the service required physical attendance,” she said. “I presume in the
future the bank is expecting community folk to travel to Masterton, Palmerston North or Dannevirke.” Ms Hull said she sees the remedy for bank closures is a combined service, corporate banking, one facility with access to all banks.
“Banks will have to work collaboratively like most modern services nowadays,” she said.