Credit union moving its home in Rotorua's CBD

The former ASB bank site on the corner of Tutanekai St and Pukuatua St is to get new tenants. Photo/Stephen Parker

The former ASB bank building in the heart of Rotorua's central city is to get a new tenant.

Credit Union Central is moving out of Rotorua Central and into the heart of the city, on the corner of Pukuatua St and Tutanekai St.

While most of the big banks have moved from the city centre to Rotorua Central during the past few years, Credit Union Central general manager Gavin Long said it had decided to make the move out of the mall to better serve its clients.

The new site will be bigger and will include a new SME (small and medium enterprise) banking centre to be run by former Chamber of Commerce chief executive Darrin Walsh and another employee. It meant the new site would employ 29 staff, up from 27 currently, Mr Long said.

There will also be an ATM and the building will undergo a refit and refurbishment.

Mr Long said the success of the Night Market was another reason the bank wanted to move and it would investigate having later opening hours on Thursday nights to make the most of the increased foot traffic.

"It's a case of going where the market is. The bigger banks have saturated the mall . . . we want to do this for our own niche market and we think it will be more convenient for them."

Mr Long said Credit Union clients tended to be lower income earners and a central city location was handier, especially with Work and Income also on Pukuatua St.

"Just because you don't earn millions doesn't mean you don't deserve a decent banking service. This move is about making sure our demographic of clients is uplifted."

Credit Union Central was one of the first banks to move to Rotorua Central about five years ago. The lease would run out on Thursday August 31, the bank would be open on the Friday and then open at the new site on Monday September 4, Mr Long said.

He said the new site would be up and running before the Credit Union's 50th anniversary in November.

Peter Faulkner, general manager of Pukeroa Oruawhata Group - the owners of Rotorua Central Mall & Trade Central, said he was confident of filling the gap in the mall and would ideally look for a fashion retailer.

Mr Faulkner said Rotorua Central already housed the ASB, BNZ, BNZ Partners, ANZ and Westpac banks as well as Kiwibank inside the mall so this was a good opportunity to "change the mix".

He said Rotorua Central was in "reasonably hot demand" and the centre was comfortable the site would be leased quickly.