Media

Here you’ll find our media releases and opinions about banking in New Zealand, along with our media appearances.

Media Appearances Media Releases Opinions

NZ Herald - Covid 19 coronavirus: Lockdown was a ‘dark time’ for many: Retirement commissioner

May 27, 2020 - “Banks are working hard to help customers in need. That’s reflected in the fact over 115,000 customers have reduced or deferred all home loan repayments since we went into level 4 lockdown, for loans totalling nearly $40 billion. Now that we’re at level 2 some of these customers are starting to see a way through... Read more »

Media Appearances

NZ Herald - On a six-month loan holiday? Expect contact from your bank soon

May 22, 2020 - Beaumont encouraged borrowers who had deferred their loans to keep in touch with their bank if their circumstances changed. “It’s in borrowers’ interests to start repaying their loans as soon as they can. That may be before the deferral period ends.”

Media Appearances

Stuff - Households already coming off home loan ‘holidays’, banks say

May 22, 2020 - At the end of Monday, 59,237 bank borrowers were making reduced repayments on their home loans, or other loans, and 53,779 were on complete repayment holidays, figures from the New Zealand Bankers’ Association showed.

Media Appearances

NZ Adviser - Banks commit to paying suppliers faster amid COVID-19 crisis

May 21, 2020 - “Last year, our banks spent $5.7 billion running their businesses in New Zealand. That includes paying local businesses for goods and services. We expect this initiative will make a difference for many businesses.”

Media Appearances

Interest.co.nz - David Hargreaves has a deeper dive through the Reserve Bank’s latest figures on mortgage lending by debt-to-income ratio and finds that buyers across the spectrum have been stretching themselves further

May 19, 2020 - According to NZ Bankers Association figures nearly 54,000 bank customers with mortgages of just under $19 billion have gone on the six month repayment ‘holiday’, which was offered in March.

Media Appearances

Interest.co.nz - RBNZ Governor says banks will need to be ‘forgiving’ as more people are set to lose their jobs as mortgage repayment deferrals expire

May 19, 2020 - According to the New Zealand Bankers’ Association, banks approved repayment deferrals on $18.9 billion of consumer loans to 53,779 customers, in the nearly two months to May 18.

Media Appearances

Business Desk - Government to private sector: please pay your bills faster

May 19, 2020 - The banking sector, meanwhile, is on board and committing to paying suppliers of goods and services within two weeks, New Zealand Bankers’ Association chief executive Roger Beaumont said.

Media Appearances

Stuff - Pay small businesses as soon as possible, Government urges big business

May 19, 2020 - “We’re pleased to make this commitment to support New Zealand businesses. It’s another way in which we’re supporting our economic recovery.”

Media Releases

Banks commit to pay suppliers faster

May 19, 2020 - New Zealand’s banks are committing to paying suppliers of goods and services within two weeks. This initiative matches the government’s target for public sector agencies to pay 95% of invoices from New Zealand-based businesses within 10 working days. “The economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic means that many small and medium-sized businesses now need good... Read more »

Media Appearances

NBR - Prepare for negative rates, banks warned

May 14, 2020 - “Other important factors that determine retail interest rates include the cost of wholesale funding from overseas and the cost of domestic funding, which includes rates of return on retail bank deposits.”