Additional precaution for BNZ customers

13 April 2006

Additional precaution for Bank of New Zealand customers – further 4844 cards blocked for overseas usage

Based on further information provided by Police, Bank of New Zealand has blocked overseas usage of a further 4844 Bank of New Zealand cards used in six Auckland Bank ATM machines believed to have been targeted by a group of sophisticated ATM skimming criminals.

This move affects only those customers who may have used these six machines - located at New Lynn, Silverdale, Pakuranga, Cnr Queen and Victoria Streets, Manurewa, and the stand- alone machine on Ponsonby Road - between 10 February and 28 February.

The Bank’s action reflects its conservative approach to precautionary measures taken in the interests of customers.

Confirming the Bank’s actions today:

1. The block applies only to overseas transactions. All use of ATM cards in New Zealand will be unaffected.
2. For affected customers who are currently overseas, the Bank has established emergency procedures to allow customers temporary access to their transaction accounts by phoning +64 4 473 5901.
3. Affected customers who are travelling overseas in the next few days should contact a Bank of New Zealand branch and make arrangements for a replacement card to be issued.

Replacement cards can be obtained at Bank of New Zealand’s Auckland International Airport branch situated in the Departures area (adjacent to passport control on level 1) between 9.00am and 9.00pm each day.

Bank of New Zealand’s Botany branch (located at 500 Ti Rakau Drive) will be open on Saturday and Monday over Easter weekend between 9.00am and 3.00pm to assist customers that require a replacement card. This service is also available at the Bank branch located at Auckland’s SKYCITY Entertainment Centre, open Saturday and Monday between 8.15am and 11.45pm.

For any enquires or in the event of any transaction irregularities Bank of New Zealand customers in New Zealand should phone 0800 275 269.

Bank of New Zealand customers whose cards have been blocked for overseas usage in recent days are unaffected by today’s action. Affected customers are still able to use their ATM cards for New Zealand-based transactions. Cards have not been blocked for domestic use, and will be replaced progressively.

“The evidence strongly suggests that the recent skimming incidents are limited to the Auckland area. The Bank regrets any inconvenience to customers and is acting proactively to ensure the availability of funds while overseas,” says Shona Bishop, Bank of New Zealand General Manager, Marketing and Business Development.

While to date suspicious transactions have been detected only on accounts of customers using the New Lynn and Pakuranga ATMs, the Bank is carefully monitoring transactions from cardholders who used any of the six Auckland machines recently.

“No further fraud has been detected to date on the accounts of customers who have used these machines. We have taken this additional precautionary step to minimise the risk to customers and at the same time provide as much flexibility and convenience as possible over the Easter weekend,” says Ms Bishop.

No Bank of New Zealand customer will be out-of-pocket as a result of the skimming incidents.

Customers of other banks are advised to contact their bank.

ENDS

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