Banking Hub begins year long trial in Nelson

Thursday, 3 December 2020

New banking hub provides opportunity for public to get face to face help with banking despite closure of branches in Stoke.

A trial Banking Hub in Stoke has celebrated its opening, but organisers and advocates say customers need to vote with their feet to ensure it stays.

The Stoke Banking Hub is one of four regional banking hubs on trial throughout the country for the next year, to provide a place where ASB, ANZ, BNZ, Kiwibank, TSB and Westpac customers can perform basic banking transactions.

The hubs provide Smart ATMs, tablets and phones along with at least one concierge, employed by the pharmacy, to assist customers who need extra support.

New Zealand Bankers Association chief executive Roger Beaumont said technology could often be “overwhelming” for older generations but it was about gaining the confidence to use it.

* Stoke banking hub gets December go-ahead

* Banks beginning trials that could save face-to-face banking in regions

* Banking hubs: 'A very small response to a major issue'

* Will hub plan halt closures, or see them increase?

Daphne Crampton, left, advocated for a banking facility in Stoke after it lost both Westpac and KiwiBank over the last couple of years.

* Six-bank hub to run in Stoke for year-long trial

During lockdown, there was an increase in customers registering for online banking “but interestingly, that was disproportionately higher amongst 65 plus”.

Those who were initially reluctant to do online banking, the lockdown forced many to embrace it, Beaumont said.

The Banking Hub shares its site with John's Stoke Pharmacy and New Zealand Post on Putaitai Street.

“What a hub environment like this can help some customers with is that transition to online and understand it's OK. It’s safe and it’s not that scary.”

Nelson MP Rachel Boyack said the hub was an exciting addition because Stoke’s elderly population had been pushing for a banking facility.

“This is great because it’s safe and secure, so people can come inside and feel safer about using a machine as well as get that personal support”

“It is a case though, the community have to embrace it, so they do have to come and give it a go … discover that once they’ve tried it, they may find it’s actually a really great option for them.”

Stoke Whareama Rest Home resident Daphne Crampton, 94, advocated for a banking facility in the suburb after the community lost both Westpac and KiwiBank during banking premises culls over the last couple of years.

She said a banking hub was “very important” because lots of people who weren’t able-bodied had difficulties reaching services that were mostly based in town.

Crampton said one resident at Whareama was nearly blind and could only manage walking over the road to the new hub.

“There are lots of people like that in Stoke area, and we all need all the help we can get.”

The hub is based in the same building as New Zealand Post and recent addition, John’s Stoke Pharmacy.

Associate Finance Minister and Housing Minister, Megan Woods officially opened the Banking Hub by making a cash deposit into her account at an ATM.

She said all the banks in the trial had made a commitment not to close any further branches throughout regional New Zealand until the trial was complete, “so we can take what we learn here in Stoke as well as the other three locations around the country and think about the future of banking throughout regional New Zealand”.