The division operates via an extensive network of 196 branches (including agency sites) and 508 ATMs across both the North and South islands. Banking products are provided under the Westpac brand while wealth and insurance products are provided by Westpac Life New Zealand and BT New Zealand. Institutional customers are supported by the New Zealand Institutional Bank, the results of which appear within WIB.

Committed to local banking, local communities

Key to our long-term success is building strong local businesses with highly capable local bankers, and truly empowering them to be able to help their customers and communities.

In support of bringing back the Bank Manager, we are transitioning our branches to a refreshed customer-centric branch operating model – the Local Operating Model. This is not just a quick makeover, but a fundamental restructuring of roles and responsibilities that frees up our Bank Managers to better meet their customers’ needs and spend more time in the communities in which they live and work.

Often it’s the little things that most powerfully demonstrate this important bridge between banker and community, such as Bank Manager, Tracey Mold encouraging pupils of the local school in Otangarei to apply for positions as ‘School Tellers’ as part of their school banking. So not only meeting the pupils’ banking needs and encouraging them to save, she is also assisting them to understand the value of what they are learning at school – applying English and maths to real life.

Building long-term capability through financial literacy

At Westpac we believe having financially literate customers is vital for the well-being of our customers and the sustained growth of our economy. It’s the right thing to do – and it’s also good for the long-term sustainability of our business.

In 2006 Westpac launched its financial literacy program, ‘Managing Your Money’. In New Zealand, it is unique as it is facilitated by Westpac employees within their own communities. We have set ourselves the goal of having 45,000 New Zealanders participate in our Managing Your Money program by 2012. Given the difficult financial environment, this program has been well received by our customers.

By the end of September 2009, more than 3,000 people have attended one of more than 300 Managing Your Money workshops and nearly 4,500 have accessed our online tutorial when unable to attend in person. At present we have 182 active workshop facilitators trained throughout New Zealand.

We have expanded the program to include a workshop specifically designed for secondary school students, which is particularly relevant to school leavers. Workshops are free, delivered in multiple languages and fully accessible, catering for the visually impaired and deaf members of the community.