BNZ banks on Christchurch

Bank of New Zealand will retain all staff and all banking services in Christchurch.

Andrew Thorburn BNZ CEO says, “I’m delighted to announce today that we will be keeping all our staff in the area. We have almost 420 staff in Christchurch and it’s important to us that they and their families have clarity around their futures.

“We recognise that the future success of Christchurch will depend on retaining a highly skilled workforce, as well as ensuring continuity and specialist knowledge across the broadest range of banking capabilities.

“Our commitment to Christchurch is to ensure certainty for staff and customers and importantly, access to capital and a full range of financial services.”

BNZ is also pleased to announce that some of its professional business banking services that were rerouted following the earthquake on February 22 will be retained in the area.

Campbell Parker, the Regional Managing Partner for BNZ Southern says, “Immediately following the earthquake BNZ had to relocate Institutional, Treasury and International banking out of the region to ensure continuity of these essential services.

“This decision means that while we had returned much of this business now we will be back to full operational strength over the coming weeks across our Riccarton, Cashel and Fitzgerald and Sydenham sites.”

BNZ has extended around $18m in hardship assistance to over 1,300 businesses and home owners impacted by the earthquake.

The bank has allocated an additional $1 billion of new funding to assist and to provide investment and funding support.

Mr Campbell Parker says, “This funding line is to be allocated to infrastructure projects, rebuilding businesses across all sectors, and to fund new housing stock.”

BNZ’s store and Partners network is now fully accessible to customers with 15 out of the existing 17 stores now open for business as well as 40 fully functional ATMs Christchurch-wide.