Another bank in Northland is set to close its doors for good.
The BNZ branch on Marsden Rd, Paihia, will open for the last time on Friday, April 7. Branches in Kaikohe and Dargaville will cut their hours to 1-4.30pm and 9am-12.30pm, respectively, from April 3. The bank's Paihia ATM will remain.
The BNZ says the closure is due to customers shifting to online banking but Northland MP Winston Peters says the move is about boosting profits, and is bad news for older Kiwis who prefer face-to-face banking.
BNZ retail regional manager Tracey Mold said three Paihia staff were affected by the closure. The bank was working with them on redeployment and redundancy options. The Kaikohe and Dargaville staff also had new roles to consider, she said.
Customers were increasingly making use of online banking, leading to a decline in demand for in-store banking services in Paihia, Kaikohe and Dargaville.