Most branches and ATMs are now open and operating, CEO says
Westpac NZ has increased its financial support to customers and communities impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle and earlier flooding to $4 million.
“We initially gave $1 million in $2,500 cash grants to small business customers affected by the late January flooding and Cyclone Gabrielle and we’re now increasing the amount available to $3 million,” Westpac NZ CEO Catherine McGrath said. “There is clearly a need for further support, and we are also widening eligibility for the cash grants to include farmers and growers, who have been hit particularly hard.”
The bank was also donating $1 million to help a range of organisations provide immediate flood relief and recovery in the worst-hit areas, including local iwi and community groups, mayoral relief funds, and rural support organisations, McGrath said.
As its usual business practice, Westpac said it will also match employee donations dollar-for-dollar.
Eligible Westpac personal, business, and agribusiness customers may also access temporary overdrafts that are interest-free for up to 90 days.
“These overdrafts come with no establishment fees and will provide customers with funds to get through the weeks to come as they manage things like insurance claims,” McGrath said.
Discounted lending is also available for customers badly impacted by the floods and cyclone on a case-by-case basis.
“We know the support needed by many customers will only become apparent in the weeks to come, and may change over time,” McGrath said. “We have a range of options, including discounted lending, to help alleviate the pressure for customers who have been materially impacted.”
McGrath said most Westpac branches and ATMs were now open and operating.
“We know cash has been more important than ever due to the power and communication outages that affected card payments, so the restoration of ATM services has been one of our highest priorities,” she said. “We’re continuing to focus on restoring our remaining services that are not yet back online.”
Eligibility criteria as well as terms and conditions apply to some of the assistance. Visit the Westpac website for up-to-date information about the financial support available to impacted customers.
How is your organisation helping those impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle? Share it with us in the comments below.
