- The Reserve Bank’s latest Financial Stability Report issued today has confirmed that banks are supporting New Zealand’s financial outlook in the face of ongoing global economic challenges. “Well-regulated strong banks are part of New Zealand’s current success compared to other countries,” says New Zealand Bankers’ Association chief executive Kirk Hope. The report identified a number... Read more »
- “It’s a useful step towards sorting out a very thorny and expensive compliance issue for us. We understand US moves to clamp down on tax evasion by Americans living around the world. But without an inter-governmental agreement, the US law’s provisions are virtually unworkable,” said Hope.
- The New Zealand Bankers’ Association today applauded the government’s decision to seek an inter-governmental agreement between New Zealand and the United States which will help financial institutions comply with new US tax reporting requirements. The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, also known as FATCA, is designed to ensure US citizens resident in other countries meet... Read more »
- Large profits in the banking sector needed to be considered alongside the contribution banks made to the economy, Mr Hope says. “Last year banks contributed around $6 billion to our economy through the $4.5 billion they invest in running their businesses here, and the $1.3 billion they paid in tax.”
- KPMG’s Financial Institutions Performance Survey (FIPS) report for the quarter to 30 June 2012 confirms that New Zealand banks are well placed to meet ongoing challenges. Those challenges to the banking sector, and the wider New Zealand economy, include the continuing European debt crisis and a slowdown in the Australian economy, our largest trading partner.... Read more »
- The banking industry’s lobby group has slammed the investment regulator over its guidance on how KiwiSaver should be sold, saying it will be harder for consumers to get information on the retirement savings scheme.
- By rewriting the law, the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) is doing consumers a disservice says the New Zealand Bankers’ Association. Following the release of the FMA’s guidance note on the sale and distribution of KiwiSaver, Bankers’ Association chief executive Kirk Hope expressed serious concerns. “This is bad for consumers because it limits access to information... Read more »
- A survey by Consumer NZ shows the banking sector in New Zealand rates well above other service sectors. New Zealand Bankers’ Association chief executive Kirk Hope says banks have lifted their game over the last five years, with an eight percent increase in customer satisfaction from 84 percent to 92 percent.
- A recent survey has revealed that most people rate their bank highly, and that the banking sector in New Zealand rates well above other service sectors. “Banks put a huge effort into customer service and it’s great to see this reflected in the survey results,” says New Zealand Bankers’ Association chief executive Kirk Hope. The... Read more »
- The New Zealand Bankers’ Association welcomes the interim report of the Australian and New Zealand Productivity Commissions on closer economic relations and a single economic market, but notes that addressing the issue of double taxation of company income was an absolute ‘must do’. “The interim report usefully addresses many of the remaining barriers to a... Read more »