Media Releases

Media Releases

New home loans rise despite economic conditions

- The number of new home loans increased by nearly 30% in the six months to December 2023 according to retail banking insights released today by the New Zealand Banking Association. There were 52,504 new home loans from June to December, which is an increase of 29.8% compared to 40,438 new loans in the previous six... Read more »
Media Releases

Banks welcome changes to consumer lending law

- The banking industry welcomes changes to consumer lending law announced by the government today. New Zealand Banking Association chief executive Roger Beaumont says: “We welcome the removal of overly prescriptive affordability assessment requirements because it should help fix the one-size-fits-all approach that treated all types of lending and borrowers the same. “The change still means... Read more »
Media Releases

Banks seek government support for Anti-Scam Centre

- The banking industry has asked the government to support a New Zealand Anti-Scam Centre, as part of a response to recent ministerial requests on scam prevention. In a letter to commerce and consumer affairs minister Andrew Bayly, New Zealand Banking Association chief executive Roger Beaumont asked the government to consider leading scam prevention in New... Read more »
Media Releases

BNZ to chair New Zealand Banking Association

- BNZ chief executive Dan Huggins has been elected chair of the New Zealand Banking Association and took up the role on 1 April. ANZ chief executive Antonia Watson was elected deputy chair. The chair and deputy chair take on their respective roles for two years. Mr Huggins says it’s an honour to represent the New Zealand... Read more »
Media Releases

Government support to fight scams welcomed by banks

- The New Zealand Banking Association welcomes the New Zealand government’s support to help fight fraud at the inaugural Global Fraud Summit held in London this week. NZBA chair Vittoria Shortt, who attended the summit on behalf of the New Zealand banking industry, says the commitment to support collaboration across sectors is essential to tackling fraud... Read more »
Media Releases

Banks progress anti-scam initiatives

- Work towards establishing a national Anti-Scam Centre to further fight fraud and scams is progressing as retail banks make it harder for criminals to target New Zealanders. New Zealand Banking Association chief executive Roger Beaumont says: “Banks are often at the end of a chain of events that makes up a scam and we know... Read more »
Media Releases

Bank customers remain resilient in challenging times

- Savers are making the most of higher interest rates and borrowers are managing through the current economic challenges, according to retail banking data insights for the six months to June released by the New Zealand Banking Association today. New Zealand Banking Association chief executive Roger Beaumont says that while the rise in the cost of... Read more »
Media Releases

Banking industry to lead the way on national cross-sector approach to scams

- The retail banking industry today announced a number of key initiatives to further fight fraud and scams, leading the way for a significant, co-ordinated, multi-sector approach to protecting New Zealanders including: Supporting the establishment of a centralised, co-ordinated, multi-sector national Anti-Scam Centre Instigating an industry wide ‘confirmation of payee’ account name checking service Committing to... Read more »
Media Releases

Wānanga launched to support whānau financial literacy

- A new financial capability programme specifically focused on Māori is being launched this weekend through wānanga being held in Te Tairāwhiti, and later in Ōtautahi. The initiative, called Te Rito Hou, a Sorted programme for whānau, has been realised through a partnership between Tāwhia – the Māori bankers’ group, the New Zealand Banking Association –... Read more »