The banking industry supports the government’s recently announced affordability assessment exemption for customers affected by the recent damaging weather events.
“Banks want to provide as much support as possible to those affected by the recent weather damage in the North Island,” says Roger Beaumont, chief executive of the New Zealand Banking Association – Te Rangapū Pēke.
“The temporary exemption to some of the affordability requirements in the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act will assist banks to speed up the finance application process for those who need it.
“Banks will be able to use the exemption and make decisions depending on the customer’s circumstances.”
Banks can apply the exemption to overdrafts and home loan top ups of no more than $10,000. The exemption ends on 31 March 2023 and is only currently available to those negatively impacted by the floods in the upper North Island in January and February. The government says it will be taking a further exemption to Cabinet on Monday which would mean everyone affected by the floods will be covered.
Anyone affected by the floods who needs assistance should contact their bank.
“Speeding up the lending process will help customers in need. We appreciate the government’s pragmatic approach to this exemption,” says Beaumont.
“In addition to this temporary exemption to some of the lending requirements, banks have also been offering customer support including cash payments, reduced loan repayments, waived fees, access to term deposits, and donations to flood relief funds.”
The amendment to the CCCFA regulations is available at https://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2023/0007/latest/whole.html.
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“Any decisions about new customers are based on the bank’s own policies and risk appetite, alongside their regulatory and legal obligations.”
“The banking industry has engaged with the current CCCFA reforms every step of the way,” chief executive Roger Beaumont said.
NZBA today announced it would be called the New Zealand Banking Association – Te Rangapū Pēke. It was previously known as the New Zealand Bankers’ Association.
New Zealand Banking Association – Te Rangapū Pēke chief executive Roger Beaumont says: “We’re delighted to announce our new name, and that it includes our name in te reo Māori. The ingoa, or name, was given to us by Tāwhia, the Māori banking rōpū, and we are very grateful for this generous gift. The name reflects who we are as an association of banks woven together to speak with one voice.
“We’ve taken the opportunity to update our English name to include ‘banking’ rather than ‘bankers’. That better reflects our role as an advocate for the banking industry rather than individual bankers.
“We also have a new logo in the form of a woven ‘B’ for banking, which represents our banks moving forward together to deliver for all New Zealanders.”
NZBA was established in 1891 and was then known as the Associated Banks in New Zealand. In 1958 it changed its name to the New Zealand Bankers’ Association.
“The banking industry has been integral to the history and economic development of New Zealand. As the country has evolved, so have our banks. Our new name is another step for us along that road,” says Beaumont.
NZBA provides a voice for its 18 member banks on non-competitive industry issues. For further information about the New Zealand Banking Association – Te Rangapū Pēke, see: www.nzba.org.nz.
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Note: Tāwhia advised that while there are a number of words in Māori for association or group, ‘rangapū’ is the best fit for NZBA. Rangapū brings in the idea of partnership and also has a strong connection to business.
- Ranga is short for raranga, or to weave. NZBA’s role is to weave together the collective voice of the New Zealand banking industry.
- Pū – means a skilled or wise person, or anything growing in a bunch. Pū is also taken from pūtea or money.
- Rangapū means association, collective or cohort.
- Pēke means bank or banks.
“Banks also operate in a competitive market and work hard to attract and retain customers,” chief executive Roger Beaumont said. We’d encourage merchants concerned about their fees to talk to their bank.”
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Meanwhile, the Bankers Association had launched a “take a sec to check” campaign, to alert people about how to prevent getting scammed online.
“We’re encouraging everyone to take a moment before making a payment or giving away personal information, just to be sure it’s not a scam,” New Zealand Bankers’ Association chief executive Roger Beaumont said.
Banks are asking people to ‘take a sec to check’ before they part with their money or personal information, in a campaign aimed at raising scam awareness over summer.
“We’re encouraging everyone to take a moment before making a payment or giving away personal information, just to be sure it’s not a scam,” says New Zealand Bankers’ Association chief executive Roger Beaumont.
“Scams are a form of financial crime. They are constantly evolving and increasingly sophisticated. Scams tend to involve criminals pretending to be a trusted person or organisation who then persuade people to make payments to them or hand over personal information to access their bank accounts.
“We know there’s no silver bullet when it comes to fighting financial crime. We also know it pays to be alert, know what to look out for, and how to deal with it. If you take a sec, you might save yourself from being scammed.
“Tomorrow we’re launching a campaign to help raise awareness about scams. We’re using radio ads, street posters and social media to get the message out.
“We’re running this campaign over the summer break when people are more relaxed and might take a moment to think about scams and how to keep themselves safe.
Tips to help you stay safe:
Stay alert
Be alert to texts or emails. Never click on links in unsolicited emails or text messages. Report and delete suspicious messages.
Be wary of cold calls asking for personal details or money. If an unexpected phone call seems suspicious, hang up and call the business back using its publicly available phone number.
Keep up to date with the latest scams to help recognise the warning signs.
Be proactive
Use unique, long passwords and change these regularly. Keep all passwords and security codes secure – don’t disclose these to anyone.
Never give a stranger remote access to your computer or device.
Safeguard your devices by keeping operating systems and apps up to date.
Take your time
If someone is pressuring you to do something, it may be a sign they’re trying to scam you. Take your time and check out who you’re dealing with before providing your details or sending any money.
Report it
Report any suspected scams to your bank.
For more information about scams, see: https://www.nzba.org.nz/banking-information/fighting-financial-crime/scams/.
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