Double Triumph for E-LOAN New Zealand

For immediate release
20 October 2000

Double Triumph for E-LOAN New Zealand

E-LOAN New Zealand, the online loan comparison and application service, is a double award winner in the prestigious 2000 ANZ Interactive New Zealand Awards that recognise excellence in interactive media.

A first-time entrant, E-LOAN New Zealand’s website, www.eloannz.co.nz, won both the Business to Consumer category and the Information/Reference category.

Chief judge of the Awards, TUANZ Board Member Reg Russ said the E-LOAN site set a benchmark as a superior online product.

“We felt that the E-LOAN site would fundamentally change the way New Zealanders make their most significant investments.

“Statistics show that we have more choices and options when dealing with minor purchases than we do with major investments.”

“The E-LOAN site really stood out from other entrants - it is comprehensive, simple, versatile and will catch on quickly with consumers,” Mr Russ said.

E-LOAN’s Online Manager, Kieran Cooney, said E-LOAN’s wins were recognition of the company’s absolute commitment to providing a total customer solution by putting the customer at the heart of the process rather than at the end of the financial food chain. “ It’s about demystifying and simplifying borrowing,” he said.

“The award is a real tribute to our team who’ve created a dynamic website which gives home loan customers the information that exactly meets their individual needs.“

The challenges were to understand the mass of home loan market information and then `pick it apart’ to identify what customers wanted, Mr Cooney said.

Information on the E-LOAN website had been audited to assure its complete impartiality. The site also offered superior privacy protection for customers, he said.

“We believe the website is the first in New Zealand to have achieved the PricewaterhouseCoopers BetterWeb Seal – an international certification that guarantees complete protection of consumer information.”

E-LOAN customers are able to compare the services of 24 lenders including those of New Zealand’s four largest banks and have access to around 200 home loan products and services.

For more information please contact:

Kieran Cooney
Online Manager
E-LOAN New Zealand
Ph: 09-359-5020

KEY FACTS

E-LOAN New Zealand
www.eloannz.co.nz

 E-LOAN New Zealand is a home loan service that enables people to make online comparisons of a wide range of loans from 24 different lenders. Customers can select the loan that suits them best and then apply for it over the Internet or by phone. The E-LOAN service is safe, secure, impartial – and free.
 E-LOAN New Zealand operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and customers are able to process their loans at any time. Customers can apply online or over the phone. E-LOAN New Zealand Consultants are experienced and expert financial consultants.
 E-LOAN makes money by receiving a commission on each loan that is placed with a lender through the E-LOAN New Zealand website. PricewaterhouseCoopers independently accredits that neither E-TRACK, nor the E-LOAN Consultants know the commissions received by E-LOAN from individual lenders, to ensure impartiality.
 E-LOAN New Zealand Ltd is a stand-alone entity in New Zealand, 50% owned by eVentures New Zealand and 50% owned by E-LOAN Incorporated.

 eVentures New Zealand is 64% owned by eVentures Inc (a partnership between SOFTBANK and epartners), 16% owned by Sky Television founder Craig Heatley, 6% owned by corporate shareholders and 15% owned by public shareholders.

The people behind E-LOAN
Bruce Gordon is the chief executive officer of E-LOAN New Zealand. Bruce has a proven background in business development, a real commitment to consumers and an acute knowledge of the banking and financial services industries. He has a solid grounding in operational customer-focused banking and is an expert in electronic applications in banking services, and in business development.
Prior to joining E-LOAN Bruce was chief executive officer of Farmers’ Financial Services, New Zealand’s largest consumer finance and card company. In this role he made significant changes to the company which greatly improved its performance. His achievements included launching the Farmers’ Home Loan Service. In previous roles with the Bank of New Zealand and ASB Bank, Bruce has worked to bring to market leading electronic banking facilities such as Telephone Banking, Secure Internet Payments and EFTPOS.
E-LOAN’s other senior managers are Katherine Dewar (Marketing Manager), Don Morgan (Service and Sales Manager) and Kieren Cooney (Online Manager).

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