Banking stalwarts celebrate opening

Two well-known members of the Dargaville and banking communities joined the ANZ and National Bank in opening the newly refurbished combined ANZ branch in Dargaville's Victoria St.

Former National Bank branch manager Graham Jones and former ANZ branch manager Rex Nathan attended the opening ceremony on Monday.

Mr Jones started at The National Bank in 1952, becoming Dargaville branch manager in 1986 and retiring in 1993.

Mr Nathan was with ANZ for 46 years, half of which he spent as branch manager.

It was 66 years ago to the day that he started out with the Post Office, which later became part of ANZ.

Mr Nathan liked the look of the new branch.

"It's looking great. I like how the new design takes a bit from ANZ and a bit from National Bank. It shows where we've come from, but that we're also moving with the times," Mr Nathan said.

The event also marked the coming together of the ANZ and National Bank teams. Staff from the 107 Victoria St branch moved out of their branch and the into the former National Bank site in the weekend.

Branch manager Kelly Bryers said the bank wanted to do something special to celebrate the coming together of the two teams.

"Graham and Rex are such an integral part of the history of these two banks in Dargaville, so it's wonderful they could be here today as the two teams become one," Mrs Bryers said.

The new branch will have 13 staff, including agri, commercial, business banking and home loan staff specialists.