What's New
1 February, 2024
Realtor and bank shut local branches
Milford will lose its ASB bank branch from the end of the month.
The bank says in-person patronage has dropped away sharply, with most customers now using digital banking.
“Over the past four years we’ve seen customer visits to this branch steadily decline, down more than 80 per cent between 2019 and 2023,” said ASB executive’s general manager of personal banking, Adam Boyd.
“Today more than 90 per cent of our customers prefer to bank digitally,” he added.
The Takapuna branch on Hurstmere Rd and one at Smales Farm are the nearest to remain open.
Staff from Milford will be offered alternative roles.
Boyd said decisions about closing branches were not easy – Milford is one of four announced to go in Auckland, with another in Wellington – but efforts were being made to ease the transition.
Extra customer support staff are being put into busier branches, including Takapuna, to improve service levels and reduce wait times.
Regular Milford customers are being contacted and can seek advice in the branch before it closes on 29 February. This could range from one-on-one coaching to access to small-group workshops. Customers aged over 65 can seek extra attention between 9am and 10am. The bank offers a priority phone line for their calls on 0800 272 119.
ASB still has 80 branches across the country.
Takapuna Ray White closes suddenly
Ray White’s Takapuna real estate office has closed suddenly.
The office on Lake Rd shut down last month. The owner of the franchise which runs it, Gower Buchanan of the Damerell Group, was contacted by the Observer last Friday to explain what had happened.
He said he would email a response to questions over the Anniversary Weekend. By Tuesday morning this week, no response had been received and Buchanan did not return our calls.
Ray White chief executive Daniel Coulson declined to comment, referring the Observer to its Australian-based communications team. No response came by deadline.
The office was closed on Tuesday.
The Observer has been told that some agents from the office have moved to other Ray White offices around Auckland.
Read more: Realtor and bank shut local branches
Please consider supporting The Rangitoto Observer by clicking here:
