Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) has announced it will be closing its Winton branch by the end of June next year, meaning the nearest branch for customers who need it would be Invercargill. 

In place of the current branch, will be a Smart ATM so customers can still complete basic banking needs such as withdrawals, deposits, and transfers.

The announcement of the closure comes as BNZ also today confirmed it would be closing 38 of its branches across the country.

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BNZ Chief Customer Officer, Paul Carter said COVID-19 had accelerated trends that were present for for some time. 

“Around three quarters of our customers are digitally active, and they are increasingly choosing to do their banking this way, or over the phone. 

“The majority of our customers are banking online, and our talented bankers are often waiting in empty branches for customers that simply do not arrive,” he says.

Mr Carter said the decision to close the regional branches wasn’t taken lightly, however in Winton, fewer than 350 people had used the branch on more than one occasion in the last six months.

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However, president of the Winton Business Association Daphne Fairbairn said the closure of the branch is sad loss for the community – and worried for those who are not often savvy with online banking such as the elderly. 

“I think it’s sad for the older people and people who aren’t used to internet banking… or people who have limited access to computers.

“I know during COVID there was stress from people who couldn’t get into to do their banking.”

Mr Carter said BNZ would be working with existing staff in branches to redeploy them to new roles. 

“We have great bankers in our branches, and we will be working with them all to find new job opportunities at BNZ, irrespective of where they are based,” he said.

“However, COVID changed everything. Our customers have embraced digital services and tools and our bankers are serving customers irrespective of where they are. We’ve shown we can work from anywhere and there are job opportunities for all our people - it reflects the ongoing shift in how our customers are choosing to bank with us.”

Other metropolitan branches to close on December 24, 2020 

• Courtenay Place

• Greerton

• Manurewa

• Mosgiel

• Mount Maunganui

• Pakuranga

• Papatoetoe

• Petone

Branches closing between February – March 2021

• Cromwell

• Geraldine

• Huntly

• Katikati

• Ohakune

• Opotiki

• Orewa

• Otorohanga

• St Heliers

• Taihape

• Waiheke

• Waimate

• Wairoa

• Westport

Branches closing between April –June 2021

• Akaroa

• Balclutha

• Coromandel

• Dannevirke

• Hanmer Springs

• Kaikohe

• Methven

• Reefton

• Stratford

• Takaka

• Taumarunui

• Te Aroha

• Waihi

• Waipukurau

• Whangamata

• Winton