New Look For Savings Bank

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31307, 1 March 1967, Page 13

New Look For Savings Bank

The completion today of alterations at the head office of the Canterbury Savings Bank marks another stage in the history of an institution which, in four and a half years, has gained 65,000 accounts, and deposits of £l2|m.

The pressures created by this expansion dictated the alterations, which are chiefly directed at improving conditions for the public by greatly increasing business facilities at the ground floor office.

Today, the bank has arranged special events to mark the occasion, but there will be no official ceremony nor speeches to signify the opening of the new banking chamber.

Preliminary work on the alterations started about four months ago, and since December 1, contractors’ men have been working from 6 p.m. to 3.30 a.m. and during weekends, to avoid disturbance. The banking chamber formerly was divided crosswise by a counter for six tellers, a cafeteria, a mezzanine floor and the office of the general manager (Mr F. Dickson). The new arrangement provides a 15-teller counter down the south side of the office. The mezzanine has disappeared, and Mr Dickson’s office and the cafeteria have been moved to the first floor. Part of the space released is now used for a soundproof machine room. This more-than-doubling of tellers’ space will mean less delay for customers. New desks have been provided both for the staff and for public use, and opening off the main room are new offices, one for the branch manager (Mr D. Mayo) and two for accounts interview purposes. Two features, apart from the general air of spaciousness, impress in the new chamber—the ceiling and the carpeting.

The timber ceiling is of mahogany beams with halfinch gaps between, backed on the upper side with black Italian cloth and two inches of fibreblass for insulation and sound-absorbence.

The carpet was specially loomed for the bank, and is to a design from the architects for the alterations, Messrs Warren'and Mahoney. It has a black body, with bold stripes of gold, white and red.

Fluorescent lighting, formerly used in the banking chamber, has been taken out and replaced by incandescent bulbs in white cylindrical shades.

Wiring is concealed In the ceiling, and provision also is made for “piped” music to provide a background. “It has been found overseas that quiet music, not of the pop variety, is pleasing for the public and staff,” says Mr Dickson.

Tellers’ counter tops are clear of obstructions, eliminating the “cage look” which has been a banking tradition. The “open look.” says Mr Dickson, is the modern trend. To take the open look further, the former raised showwindow on to Colombo street has been dropped to floorlevel, and the public will get an uninterrupted view from the street of the spacious chamber inside.

To improve width and add to the air of spaciousness, part of the north wall has been taken out and the glass replacement matches the new glass main doors. The bank was opened on August 1, 1962, by the Minister of Finance, the late Mr H. R. Lake. Three months later, its deposits topped £lm. Since then, the bank’s progress has been spectacular. The number of accounts reached 5000 by January 11.

1963, and by October of that year, the deposits exceeded £3m. Deposits exceeded £lom by September 30, 1965. Today, the bank has 65,000 depositors, and deposits exceeding £12.25m. The bank’s investments total £Bm in Government stock, £3m on first mortgage in its area, and £o.sm in local body stock. “We now handle 85,000 transactions a month, and cash turn-over is between £2.5m and £3m a month,” said Mr Dickson.

A year after the Christchurch city office was opened, the bank opened its first branch, at Riccarton. Today, the bank has 24 branches and has extended its activities at Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Nelson, Blenheim and Motueka, and separate divisions have been established for Nelson and Marlborough provinces.