Waiouru BNZ branch to close

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 453, 15 September 1992, Page 1

Waiouru BNZ branch to close

By

Jan

Savell

The Bank Of New Zealand in Waiouru will be closing its doors for the last time on 25 September. Three staff were notified of their redundancy at 4pm on Wednesday last

week. Continued operation of the service centre has been deemed uneconomic by the BNZ head office. "The decision has not been taken lightly. It has been weighed up over a

number of years," said Ernie Oxnam, manager for BNZ Wanganui Rangitikei. "The running costs and income generated from Waiouru just didn't balance up". In November

1990 staff were reduced to three full-time positions, the minimum for a BNZ service centre. Closing down completely is now seen as the only economic solution. Staff were the first to

know of the decision, with a psychologist coming from Wellington to be on hand if extra support was needed. The commercial customers were next to be told with personal visits Turn to page 2

BNZ close

From page 1 from BNZ management. Letters are being sent to all other account holders. "We put our energies into looking after the staff" said Mr Oxnam. Waiouru manager, Barbara Romeril, was very appreciative. The decision had not been anticipated. The building had received a face-lift with new signs being installed just a fortnight before. "It came out of the blue" said Mrs Romeril. "You're left feeling shell shocked". She is determined to supervise the closing to the best of her ability. "After this we can cope with anything".