Bringing banking closer

After piloting its first banking van last year, Westpac NZ has now rolled out another two vehicles, bringing face-to-face services to customers in small communities in Southland, Canterbury and Northland.

Each van travels throughout the region it’s based in, with a schedule of day-long regular stops in different towns.

The bankers travelling with the vans offer face‑to‑face support for a wide range of services, including opening accounts, card PIN support, online and phone banking, and lending applications. The vans are cashless, but there’s plenty of help available.

The Southland van was first to cross the startline, commencing visits to Windsor, Winton and Te Anau in May 2025. Riverton and South City locations have now also been added to the schedule and Kim Ryland, Branch Manager Invercargill, says the service has delivered beyond expectations.

“Over the past year, access has improved, relationships are stronger and trust has grown… from Field Days to school visits and community events, this is more than a service – it’s a relationship builder.”

A second van has been on the roads of Canterbury since February 2026, calling in to Darfield, Lyttelton, Kaiapoi, New Brighton and Lincoln. Nick Kakoi, Branch Manager The Palms, says the van has been received positively by locals.

“I recently helped a customer from Diamond Harbour - it’s around an hour’s drive from there to the nearest branch. They mentioned spotting the van in Lyttelton, and the interest took off from there. Now customers are catching the ferry specifically to bank when the van is there. That’s the power of meeting people where they are.”

Westpac’s newest van launched in March 2026 and serves the Northland region, travelling to Kawakawa, Mangawhai, Wellsford, Paihia and Waipu.

Karla Scott, Branch Manager Dargaville, says it’s great to be able to support smaller communities. 

“The feedback has been nothing but positive. Westpac customers are proud it’s their bank, and even non-Westpac customers are congratulating us on a great initiative.”

In addition to the vans, Westpac provides a number of community banking services in public spaces such as libraries and community centres. Similar to the vans, these are typically weekly or fortnightly visits, with bankers again able to help with a wide range of services.

Kerri-Ann Donaldson, Westpac NZ Senior Manager Channel Operations, says the bank’s community services are a core part of showing up for customers.

“These services mean we’re visible, accessible and genuinely connected to the communities we serve.”

For full details of all Westpac’s community banking services and locations, visit www.westpac.co.nz/community