Upgrading branches continues in city

Press, 11 December 1989, Page 39

Upgrading branches continues in city

Christchurch continues to participate in the nationwide improvement programme for Postßank with the opening of the new refurbished banking chamber at Linwood City today. The new branch is part of Postßank’s current programme of upgrading its network which, by the end of this year, will have seen the bank spend $5O million since it was corporatised in April 1, 1987. The bank now has 170 new outlets. The opening of the new Linwood City branch is

one of a number of newlook Postßanks for the southern region and is a manifestation of the bank’s commitment to the area. The branch, situated in the mall, will be able to provide all financial services on site. As well as the normal banking transactions there will be facilities for the popular mortgage and investment products. Postßank became part of the ANZ Banking Group earlier this year. The branch, particularly today, is saying to its

customers and townspeople: “This is us and we are here to stay, come and see for yourselves.” Today there will be a special morning tea and a local sports celebrity, Bobby Almond, the former vice-captain of the All Whites during the World Cup, will cut a cake at 12.15 p.m. to officially open the branch. Refreshments and cake will be served throughout the day to customers and members of the public who would like to have a look at the new branch. There will also be some

live enterainment. The new-look Linwood City branch incorporates the bank’s grey and teal colours with the tui emblem. It has eight customer counters, a layout especially designed to speed up customer flows and a separate interview facility to allow discussion about new accounts, loans and overdrafts to be done in complete privacy. Up until recently the Postßank was in the same location as New Zealand Post. Now the two different operations are side by side but separate. Bank surveys have shown that is customers want modern new premises in which to carry out banking activities. This has been borne out by the large amount of business the bank’s new branches are experiencing. It is not only the customers who are benefiting from the new banks, the staff also benefit in new and upgraded premises, which are specifically designed for banking, rather than the multi-purpose premises which characterised the old Post Office network. The changes taking place in Postßanks are not only matters of design. It is an investment in staff training, marketing and operating efficiencies which are all being undertaken to benefit the customers.