WHO’S NEW?
A New Star In The Banking Constellation With business confidence growing in North Harbour and a population growth explosion projected by Auckland City, Kiwibank’s decision to open a Business Banking Centre on Constellation Drive was a timely one.
T
he Centre lies on the southern boundary of arguably New Zealand’s biggest commercial Business Improvement District. With a large concentration of commercial interests, the area can only win from the arrival of a bank that launched with this thought: “New Zealand needs a better banking alternative.” Kiwibank clearly identify with Small Business and start-ups, having started small themselves. Their relatively recent arrival on the banking scene – compare Kiwibank’s 2002 start with an opposition bank’s 1847 Auckland debut – has permitted them to remain nimble and highly adaptive to their business partners’ needs. Significant growth in business banking services prompted the NZ-owned bank to create three of the Centres across Auckland – the other two are located in Central and South East Auckland. Helping to drive that growth is North Harbour/ West Auckland Area Manager Terry Zouch. Terry brings over thirty years of banking experience to the role and has worked in Retail, Corporate and Business banking. The skills he has learned during that time now give North Harbour
another excellent resource to tap in to. “We are here to assist new and existing business – there is nothing more valuable than a second opinion and it’s for free,” he said. Terry graciously agreed to answer FYI’s questions about Kiwibank and its plans for North Harbour.
Why has Kiwibank opened a Business Banking Centre in the North Harbour area? We (Kiwibank Business Banking) were set up in 2005 to give Kiwi businesses a fair deal. We have first-hand experience, having been a startup New Zealand company ourselves. We understand the challenges that
Our Business Banking Centre in Constellation Drive is a great environment, and we’re genuinely and deeply committed to local businesses.
businesses face. We are Kiwis supporting Kiwis, and believe we have an advantage in terms of commitment and relationships. Because we’re small and nimble, we can make changes pretty quickly. Off the back
of that, we’re really going to leverage off our branch network, which has been revamped. So you’ll see more presence across our branch network and through our area office here in Constellation Drive.
How does Kiwibank engage with its business partners? In a business climate of tight margins, business clients are looking for products that allow productive means of funding and servicing their financial structures. Many of our products and services are market-leading, designed to make banking more efficient, rewarding and productive. Some of our newest products are very exciting – such as internet banking for business, and the Fetch recurring payments service, which helps SMEs get paid faster and easier. With our new profile we are advertising to the North Shore business community that they now do indeed have another banking alternative. We also have a great team. Our Business Banking Centre in Constellation Drive is a great environment, and we’re genuinely and deeply committed to local businesses. We would love to advise and support new
business one on one rather than being referred to a call centre.
Business-wise, what do the next 24 months hold for NZ? The next 24 months will continue to be challenging. However, we are starting to see New Zealand business recover and rebuild their positioning within the economy. The good old Kiwi attitude is coming to the fore, despite the world’s challenges. Kiwibank is a business with that attitude and we look forward to assisting business to recover and prosper.
Thanks for your answers, Terry. Banking is a highly competitive, customer focused industry. Having an alternative option for business banking in the area certainly raises the banking performance bar. Kiwibank has gained over 800,000 new customers nation-wide in eleven years, which would indicate they are here to stay. Whether North Harbour businesses choose to bank with Kiwibank or use it just to create a comparison with their current banking service, the consumer wins. For more information phone 0800 601 601 or visit Level 2, 61 Constellation Drive, Mairangi Bay. www.kiwibank.co.nz. WWW.NHBA.ORG.NZ FYI AUGUST 2013 15