- “As an industry we sometimes find implementing deadlines can be challenging,” Beaumont said. “For example, the law sets a compliance date but the more detailed regulations or guidance are not available until close to the deadline.”
- The New Zealand Bankers’ Association asked for the first reporting period the rules will apply to, to be extended by three months to March 31. “Without this period, banks will need to temporarily slow high LVR lending in a much more dramatic way to meet the new requirements.”
- NZ Bankers’ Association chief executive Roger Beaumont told the Herald, “All banks can offer options for customers experiencing hardship. We’ve been particularly conscious of this through the economic impact of Covid-19.
- “Last year, under the loan repayments deferral scheme agreed with the government, Reserve Bank and credit rating agencies, around $70 billion in household and business loans had repayments fully deferred or reduced for up to six months. We’re not seeing the need to bring back the scheme at this stage but deferring or reducing repayments... Read more »
- The number of customers contacting their bank has increased 20% since New Zealand went into Covid alert level 4 lockdown on 17 August. “In the first week of lockdown banks saw little customer contact due to the Covid restrictions. Since then, calls have increased on average 20 per cent. We put the increase down mostly... Read more »
- “While it’s true there are some people experiencing financial hardship because of the current lockdown, we’re not seeing the same demand for help we saw with the first lockdown in March last year.”
- “It’s up to the banks how they use this exemption. They are not required to provide these services and will be taking into consideration the safety of their workers.”
- Roger Beaumont, chief executive of bank lobby group the New Zealand Bankers’ Association, says there’s no move to bring back a loan repayment deferral scheme at this stage However, he says this could change depending on how the current outbreak unfolds.
- “Anyone experiencing financial difficulty because of the current lockdown should contact their bank to discuss how they can help. Banks can offer a range of options for customers facing hardship, depending on their circumstances.”
