Media Release from Rt Hon Winston Peters, New Zealand First Leader, Member of Parliament for Northland. 18 OCTOBER 2016
Billion dollar profits are still not enough for money mad ANZ Bank which has put the boot into Hokitika by shutting down its branch office in the town, says New Zealand First Leader and Northland Member of Parliament Rt Hon Winston Peters.
“The ‘big four’ Australian Banks – ANZ, BNZ, ASB and Westpac – reported combined profits of $4.59 billion during the 2015 financial year but have set about shutting down provincial branches all over the country while the government sits by and says nothing.
“In September, Westpac confirmed the closure of 19 branches in heartland towns such as Fairlie, Putaruru, Whangamata, Takaka, Stoke, Te Anau, Otorohanga, Carterton and Raglan.
“Businesses and rural clients who have been loyal to these banks for many years understandably feel betrayed.
“They feel betrayed also by the National government which stands by and lets the life get sucked out of our towns and regions.
“These foreign-owned banks don’t care a cent about our small towns and provinces and any claims they make about providing a service are just self-serving PR,” Mr Peters says.