Singapore visit underscores need for smarter marketing, says ASB’s Kristen Ashby
A recent trip to Singapore has highlighted the importance of marketing better, says ASB’s new head of food and fibre, Kristen Ashby.
ASB is rolling out more community bankers across New Zealand, providing targeted coaching and seminars to help customers with their personal finance needs.
The community bankers will work with customers in areas they’d like additional support such as boosting their financial wellbeing and the switch to online banking, with services provided either one-on-one or in small groups depending on the person’s needs.
The programme comes off the back of a pilot of the programme performed in Northland, Waikato, and Auckland in 2021.
Over 1,000 customers were reached through the pilot, with support pivoting to ‘care calls’ during lockdown periods and more than 2,000 customers helped by phone.
ASB executive general manager retail banking Adam Boyd says the pilot received positive feedback and the remit of community bankers has now expanded to include financial wellbeing seminars and in-person support for vulnerable customers, new-to-employment seminars covering how to budget, pay bills online and more for new workers as well as workshops for customers who are speakers of other languages.
“It was clear during the pilot that customers really valued the opportunity to meet in person with a community banker. With cost-of-living concerns, the time is right to extend the focus of the programme to ensure we’re helping build financial resilience,” says Boyd.
Community bankers are now available across the North Island and in the central and southern regions of the South Island.
“Our community bankers are mobile and able to travel to wherever they are needed. This will be especially helpful for customers who find it difficult to get to their local branch or are based in remote locations. We are currently recruiting for a Nelson-based community banker to fully round out our nationwide coverage,” says Boyd.
“Community bankers are here to help. Whether you’re just starting out in the workforce, or you’ve been a long-time customer, our community banking team can provide extra support to help boost your financial or everyday banking skills.”
The golden age of orcharding in West Auckland was recently celebrated at the launch of a book which tells the story of its rise, then retreat in the face of industry change and urban expansion.
Everyone from experienced veterinarians and young professionals to the Wormwise programme and outstanding clinics have been recognised in this year’s New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) awards. As part of a series looking at this year’s rural winners, Leo Argent talked with Ginny Dodunski, winner of the Veterinary Impact Award for raising the profile of the Wormwise programme.
Recently two of New Zealand's top Maori sheep and beef farms held field days as part of the prestigious Ahuwhenua Trophy competition. The two are: Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust, northeast of Whangarei, and the proprietors of Tawapata Onenui farm on Mahia Peninsula in southern Hawke's Bay. Reporter Peter Burke attended both field days.
The New Zealand hemp industry is hoping for quick and comprehensive reform of its legislative framework after a recent "historic" visit to sites in Canterbury by a big group of politicians, officials and industry stakeholders.
Resolving rural sector disputes constructively, fairly and with long-term outcomes in mind will top the agenda at a gathering of experts in Hamilton next month.
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.
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