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Wellsford’s last stand-alone bank branch will close its doors at the end of next month, ASB announced last week.
Rumours that the Rodney Street branch was slated for closure have been circulating for at least two years, but until now, ASB has always denied this would happen.
However, ASB’s executive general manager for personal banking, Adam Boyd, said last week that customer visits to the Wellsford branch had dropped by 92 per cent over the past four years, and most people now preferred to bank online.
“That said, closing a branch isn’t a straightforward decision and we know some customers who still visit this branch will be disappointed by this news,” he said. “We are also very mindful of our local team. We’re working closely to support them, including offering them alternative roles.”
Boyd added that ASB would be putting more customer support staff into busier branches, such as Warkworth, to improve service levels and reduce wait times.
He said Wellsford customers could visit the branch in the weeks before it closed to learn more about digital and self-service banking options.
“Members of our community and business banking teams will be available in the branch before it closes, and even after the doors close, to support customers with the changes.”
A smart ATM, where customers can make deposits and withdrawals, and bag deposit units for business customers to securely drop off cash, will remain on site or nearby.
The Wellsford closure is one of four branches being closed in Auckland. ASB has closed more than 30 branches across the country since 2020.
Wellsford will not be entirely without a bank after the closure, as KiwiBank will continue to operate out of the Wellsford Post Shop on Rodney Street.
