BNZ backs a growing New Zealand

Thursday 1 November 2018

Bank of New Zealand’s (BNZ) strong performance during the 2018 financial year ended 30 September 2018 (FY18) provides confidence that continuing to invest in growing New Zealand businesses and supporting Kiwis on to the property ladder is the right thing to do, according to CEO Angie Mentis.

BNZ has announced a statutory net profit1 for its banking group2 of $1,029 million for FY18, an increase of 9.8%. Total operating revenue3 for the BNZ Banking Group increased 6.2% to $2,505 million due to strong growth in lending to businesses and home owners, combined with growth in customer deposits.

“BNZ has been supporting the ambitions of our business customers to invest in their enterprises with $8.3 billion in new lending in FY18. In the past year we also helped more than 14,000 New Zealanders realise their home ownership goals. Supporting our customers and their communities is at the very centre of who we are at BNZ,” says Ms Mentis.

Announcing BNZ’s financial results today, Ms Mentis revealed the bank’s key strategic themes for 2019 and beyond:

•BNZ will support the provinces with $10 billion available for lending to businesses outside Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch over the next five years

• BNZ is investing $250 million in new initiatives over the next three years to accelerate its drive to deliver a world-class, fast and simple, banking experience for its customers

• BNZ will continue to deliver great customer outcomes with an aim to halve its products and simplify its fees across its banking services over three years

• BNZ is committed to listening to its customers, working with our regulators, and fixing issues quickly to maintain the trust of New Zealanders

SUPPORTING OUR PROVINCES

“It’s important we support New Zealand businesses wherever they are based,” says Ms Mentis. “With $10 billion available for lending over the next five years, we’ll back business owners outside Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch to help create meaningful jobs and opportunities in their towns and communities.”

BNZ is also trialling a range of initiatives aimed at finding new ways to deliver personalised banking to more customers across New Zealand, especially in the provinces.

This will be in addition to the 153 BNZ branches and teams of BNZ people already supporting their communities. “While we trial these initiatives over the next year, there’ll be no changes to our branch network,” says Ms Mentis.

BNZ is about to commission its first BNZ mobile branch, expected to be on the road early in 2019. “The mobile branch is designed to provide our customers with the best of BNZ banking services at their local centre on a regular basis. Supporting our first-class bankers will be the latest technology to deliver the right services and advice to all of our customers,” says Ms Mentis.

FOCUS ON FASTER, SIMPLER BANKING

“That focus on delivering better customer experiences through smart technology to make banking faster and simpler helps set BNZ apart,” says Ms Mentis. “This year BNZ won a number of awards including the Canstar Bank of the Year – Online Banking award and we are constantly seeking newways to make banking faster and simpler for customers.”

“Over the coming months our customers will be able to use a range of new products and services, like our new selfie sign-up feature, helping make their experience with us seamless. We’ve committed $250 million over the next three years to continue this work, recognising that the need to innovate is an essential ingredient to improving customer service,” says Ms Mentis.

LISTENING TO CUSTOMERS AND WORKING WITH REGULATORS

“As we simplify our products and fees we’re passing savings on to our customers,” says Ms Mentis. “This year BNZ has removed or reduced a series of fees and we will continue to do so. This month for example we’re removing the replacement fee for the thousands of customers who lose or have their BNZ card stolen each year.”

BNZ has been working closely with the Financial Markets Authority and Reserve Bank of New Zealand to support their review of conduct and culture in the New Zealand banking industry.

“Our customers’ trust in BNZ is well-founded and we will continue to take proactive steps to ensure that remains the case,” says Ms Mentis.

“BNZ’s already making positive changes as we identify opportunities to improve the way we work and quickly fix issues where they are identified. Wehave already removed sales targets for staff in key customer roles in branches and call centres, so our people can focus on delivering better results for customers.”

“The continued success of BNZ is interwoven with our purpose of enabling a high achieving New Zealand and that means a dedication to consistently deliver the best possible outcomes for all of our customers,” says Ms Mentis.

KEY FINANCIAL RESULTS (compared to the financial year ended 30 September 2017, unless otherwise stated)

BNZ Banking Group2

• Statutory net profit1 of $1,029 million, an increase of 9.8%, which includes mark to market movements on offshore debt instruments and increased cash earnings

• Operating revenue3 increased by 6.2% to $2,505 million (excludes mark to market movements)

NAB NZ Banking Reporting Segment4

• Cash earnings5 of $1,004 million, an increase of 6.7%

• Total revenue increased 7.0% to $2,414 million, driven by strong volume growth in housing, business lending and deposits, and supported by improved net interest margin

• Net interest margin increased 9 basis points to 2.27% due to improved margins and lower funding cost

• Housing lending increased by 6.4% to $39.8 billion

• Business lending increased by 2.7% to $41.5 billion

• Customer deposits increased by 6.2% to $58.5 billion

• Operating expenses increased by 7.3% to $946 million, driven by investment in digital and technology

• Credit impairment charge increased by 7.0% to $76 million

Ends

© Scoop Media