If ANZ dumps National Bank it also dumps staff

If ANZ dumps National Bank it also dumps staff, customers and the economy

Bank workers' union Finsec says that any truth to the rumour, reported in the National Business Review last week, that ANZ is pushing through with dumping the National Bank would show contempt for the bank's staff, customers and all New Zealanders.

"Finsec representatives are meeting with the bank tomorrow to deliver a very strong message that such a move would be completely opposed by staff, customers and their communities," said General Secretary Andrew Casidy.

"These groups would be shocked and appalled if the bank was to ram through such a change at a time when so many New Zealanders are struggling to deal with the aftermath of both a national disaster and a global recession."

"Shutting down the National Bank network would lead to hundreds, possibly thousands of job losses, and would have a huge impact on hundreds of thousands of customers," said Casidy.

"We can only hope that ANZ has better sense than to take such a drastic move, without hearing from and genuinely considering the views of their staff, customers and the wider community."

Andrew Casidy said that Finsec would be presenting arguments against shutting down the National Bank, and outlining a plan for consultation with all stakeholders should such an idea be under consideration.

"We have seen these sorts of rumours before and our experience is that there is no smoke without fire. Staff and customers would rightly be very angry to learn about a possible shut down through the media rather than from the bank directly. We would not take a shut down of the National Bank lightly and neither would most New Zealanders."

ENDS

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