SBS might be officially classified New Zealand’s “bantamweight bank”, but when it comes to customer service it punches well above its size.

SBS Bank celebrated winning the Financial Institution of the Year at the recent Roy Morgan Customer Satisfaction Awards by handing gold and maroon Whittakers chocolate bars (SBS Bank corporate colours from its Southland heritage) to customers in its 14 branch office network that extends from Tauranga to Invercargill. It won the customer service award by beating an impressive line-up of competitors, including the big Australian banking groups.

Established in 1869, SBS Bank is believed to be the only building society in the world to have achieved bank registration, which it did in 2008, while maintaining its “mutual” structure of being owned by its customer/members.

SBS has a long history of community support and has given back more than $3 million to local community groups and events, from Waikato to Southland.