Prime Minister Helen Clark has signalled her support for the concept of a publicly run ‘Kiwi Bank’, being advocated by Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton.

“I think there’s a real concern in a lot of smaller centres about access to banking services. I’m for anything that will help,” she said at her post-cabinet press conference this afternoon. But she said any bank set up by the Government must be prudently run and seen to be a success.

Miss Clark said she could not offer any details about the proposed bank, as cabinet has not had a progress report for a while.

Mr Anderton, Finance Minister Michael Cullen and Minister for State Owned Enterprises Mark Burton are currently considering the business case for a New Zealand bank using the branch network of New Zealand Post.