McElwain disappointed with BNZ response

Malcolm Hopwood

The BNZ is “looking into possible options” to address concerns expressed by Methven’s business community last year.

In April, 2022, and again late last year, Methven people were critical of the performance and location of the town’s only ATM machine.

When BNZ closed its branch, it left the machine on the street with no protection for people either depositing or withdrawing money.

In April the business community wrote to BNZ’s Solutions Centre asking if the ATM machine could be enclosed in a small lobby that users could access with their card.

The reply was vague but suggested the bank’s support team could “look into other ways to improve user security”.

By Christmas the BNZ had done nothing further and the Ashburton Guardian, on behalf of businessman, Mac McElwain, approached it once more.

They were promised a reply by mid-January.

Yesterday, an unnamed BNZ spokesperson said the bank understood “how important this service is to the local community”.

“We’re committed to keeping our presence in Methven and have listened to the community’s concerns and are looking into possible options to address these,” the spokesperson added.

McElwain is disappointed with the response, pointing out it “was the answer BNZ gave last April”.

“You can look into it all you like but, until you take action, it’s meaningless,” he said.

The business community also complained about the occasions the ATM machine spat out notes instead of accepting them.

The BNZ spokesperson replied that “in Methven’s case, we can see where notes have been rejected. It was because they were folded or the number of notes deposited exceeded the 50-item limit per transaction”.

It explained notes can be rejected due to factors including folding or being damaged by paper clips, staples and post-it notes etc.

McElwain said people can’t help but fold money on their way to the ATM machine and putting a 50-item limit is “unrealistic”.

While he’ll welcome the bank’s “possible options” he’s reminded the community waited eight months last year and then nothing happened.

“It’s corporate speak for not doing anything,” he said at the time.