Struggling? Give us a call
ASB head of rural banking Aidan Gent is encouraging farmers to speak to their banks when they are struggling.
The community bankers will work with customers in areas they’d like additional support such as boosting their financial wellbeing and the switch to online banking, with services provided either one-on-one or in small groups depending on the person’s needs.
The programme comes off the back of a pilot of the programme performed in Northland, Waikato, and Auckland in 2021.
Over 1,000 customers were reached through the pilot, with support pivoting to ‘care calls’ during lockdown periods and more than 2,000 customers helped by phone.
ASB executive general manager retail banking Adam Boyd says the pilot received positive feedback and the remit of community bankers has now expanded to include financial wellbeing seminars and in-person support for vulnerable customers, new-to-employment seminars covering how to budget, pay bills online and more for new workers as well as workshops for customers who are speakers of other languages.
“It was clear during the pilot that customers really valued the opportunity to meet in person with a community banker. With cost-of-living concerns, the time is right to extend the focus of the programme to ensure we’re helping build financial resilience,” says Boyd.
Community bankers are now available across the North Island and in the central and southern regions of the South Island.
“Our community bankers are mobile and able to travel to wherever they are needed. This will be especially helpful for customers who find it difficult to get to their local branch or are based in remote locations. We are currently recruiting for a Nelson-based community banker to fully round out our nationwide coverage,” says Boyd.
“Community bankers are here to help. Whether you’re just starting out in the workforce, or you’ve been a long-time customer, our community banking team can provide extra support to help boost your financial or everyday banking skills.”
