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Healthy Money Healthy Planet - library.uniteddiversity.coop

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23<br />

TSB<br />

Bank profits continue to enrich the local community. In 1998, the trust that owns TSB Bank<br />

distributed NZ$1.67 million to sports clubs, old people’s associations, flower clubs,<br />

kindergartens, surf lifesaving clubs and youth groups. According to North and South<br />

magazine, dozens of tiny rural halls granted money would otherwise be left to locals to<br />

maintain. 44<br />

In the bank’s 1997 annual report, Managing Director Kevin Rimmington said, ‘We<br />

have deliberately resisted the current trend in banking to close branches and reduce staff,<br />

in order to maintain a “human touch” with our customers.’ All 15 branches remain open,<br />

including Eltham (population 2000) and Opunake (1600). The people of Eltham have seen<br />

Postbank, National Bank, BNZ, ANZ and Westpac shut up shop one by one, but TSB Bank<br />

has moved into new and better premises.<br />

Consumers’ Institute surveys in 1997 and 1999 found TSB Bank to be the best bank in<br />

the country. 45 Rod Donald of the Green Party told Parliament in April 1999 that ‘it is<br />

crucial we keep this one last bastion of community banking alive in this country. If<br />

nothing else, it is keeping the foreign banks honest.’ 46<br />

By March 2000, TSB Bank was advertising itself as the ‘no fees bank’, proclaiming ‘Every<br />

year, New Zealanders spend over $1 million on bank charges. Why spend a cent?’ 47<br />

PSIS<br />

PSIS, formerly the Public Service Investment Society, is a financial co­operative with<br />

NZ$560 million in assets and NZ$50 million in reserves. Although PSIS was originally<br />

established under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1908, the Acts under which it

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