For immediate release

Wednesday 30 March 2011

Bank must talk to customers, community and staff now about National Bank future

Bank workers’ union Finsec welcomes ANZ National NZ CEO David Hisco’s rejection today of media reports that ANZ would close National’s branches, but said that the bank is clearly signalling merging the two brands.

“Hisco’s assurance that National bank branches won’t close will come as a relief to bank staff and customers,” said Finsec Campaigns Director Tali Williams. “But Australian CEO Mike Smith’s comments that running two banks is “inefficient” is further evidence that a big decision on the branding of the banks is under consideration.”

“We have told the bank in no uncertain terms that consultation needs to be undertaken before a decision is made on the future of the National Bank. That means talking to Finsec as the representative of staff, but also to their customers and the wider community and taking all these views into account.”

“ANZ National would be placing their business at risk if customers and staff feel that the change is a fait accompli,” said Williams. “When the bank’s profits are growing, they would find it very difficult to justify to the New Zealand public any cuts to customer service or local jobs.”

Williams said that the protection of jobs and customer service would be central to Finsec’s ongoing discussions with the bank about the future of the National Bank.

ENDS

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