UK Doesn’t Have A Total Monopoly Of Bad Banks!

Classic bad bank behaviour, this time in New Zealand.

After 70 years of getting his cash over the counter at his branch, a customer is told the bank no longer offers the service.

Here’s a quote from the article.

“A spokesperson for SBS bank confirmed that the bank ceased offering branch cash services on Friday, August 28, after earlier communications with members.

These communications included guidance on alternative ways to bank, along with support to set up cards and digital banking.”

A customer wants to use cash and the bank offers advice on “alternative ways to bank”? In the same article, ANZ commented that cash use “should be preserved for New Zealanders who need it”.

Note “need” NOT “want”.

Awful New Zealand Banks copying British Big Five Bank phraseology!

Do Havas PR work for the NZ banks, as well as those in the UK?

Meantime, the local retailers association - Retail NZ - say “adequate access to cash services remain a core requirement for the country’s retailers.”

So “adequate” - a variation on the UK HM Treasury weasel-word “reasonable” - definitely not CONVENIENT.

Mind you, at least New Zealand still has more bank branches than the UK per head of population.

Between them, the NZ banks have around 700 branches. With an adult population of 4.3 million compared to the UK’s 58 million, the same branch coverage in the UK would require over 9000 branches.

The Big Five UK Banks have under 2000 branches between them.

A disgracefully inadequate in-person community banking provision in the UK.

The UK public are sick of being dictated to by the Big Five UK Banks.

Whether they realise it yet or not, 2027 is going to mark the beginning of the end of the banks power over the UK public.

That end cannot come soon enough...

Source: stuff.co.nz/nz-news/361046888/84-year-old-denied-cash-withdrawal-bank-he-has-been-70-years