Media Appearances

Rural News - Major banks to keep regional branches open

June 1, 2024 - Beaumont says the phase two hubs were welcomed by their communities. However, the trial did not indicate a significant demand for these physical services with hub usage lower than many comparable regional branches or ATMs.

NZ Herald - Regional bank branches get reprieve, will stay open for at least three more years

May 31, 2024 - “For those reasons, we believe regional New Zealand is better off if banks maintain their current branch networks for three years, instead of closing regional branches and replacing some of those branches with an alternative, such as hubs.”

Newstalk ZB - The regions will keep banking branches for the next three years

May 31, 2024 - The New Zealand Banking Association has been trialling hubs providing a smart ATM – putting operations for all banks at one location. The Association says it showed locals preferred to still use a single brand bank – rather than the hub.

Stuff - MPs sceptical over big bank claims they are supporting under-pressure farmers

May 30, 2024 - Beaumont said banks invested an “enormous” amount back into their business, paid billions in tax and employed 27,000 people.

Newshub - Farmers report record low confidence in banks, Federated Farmers survey shows

May 25, 2024 - But the association also said while banks will support their customers, lending to businesses is usually riskier than housing, which is why companies, including farmers, tend to pay higher interest rates than homeowners.

NZ Herald - Banks to add further protection against scams and fraud with Confirmation of Payee

May 20, 2024 - Together with the New Zealand Banking Association, New Zealand’s retail banks are working towards a new Confirmation of Payee system, which is one way they aim to reduce the number of payments made to fraudulent bank accounts and help people avoid making payments to the wrong account.

Farmers Weekly - Federated Farmers guns for rural banking in submission

May 16, 2024 - In its own submission, the NZ Bankers Association, representing the major banks, said the increase in capital requirements were “a significant factor” in interest rates being higher on average for farm loans than for residential mortgages.

NZ Herald - Banks select provider for confirmation-of-payee, a key anti-scam measure; Consumer says efforts ‘too slow, too light’

April 30, 2024 - “Rolling out confirmation-of-payee is not as simple as flicking a switch. Broadly speaking there are two main phases involved. First, we need to build a solution and ensure it works technically with our current payments system and complies with banks’ privacy and confidentiality obligations. Once we have that, banks then individually need to implement changes... Read more »

NBR - Plans for ‘confirmation of payee’ scam-busting tool announced

April 30, 2024 - The New Zealand banking sector says it now has a preferred provider for setting up confirmation of payee, a key part of its response to the burgeoning problem of scams.

Business Desk - ‘Confirmation of payee’ anti-scam measure inches closer

April 30, 2024 - Beaumont said there was also a role for telecommunications companies, social media websites and search engines in helping combat scams. “To take the centre to the next level, we’ve asked the government for operational support by involving the police and other relevant agencies.”