National Bank of New Zealand

National Bank of New Zealand

Type	Subsidiary of ANZ
Industry	Financial services
Headquarters	Wellington, New Zealand
Website	www.nationalbank.co.nz

The National Bank of New Zealand (NBNZ) often referred to as The National Bank is one of New Zealand's largest banks. Throughout much of its history, the National Bank has provided banking services to mainly rural, personal, and small business customers. Its owner is ANZ National Bank Limited, the New Zealand subsidiary of Australia and New Zealand Banking Group. ANZ purchased it in 2003 from Lloyds TSB who, earlier as Lloyds Bank, had been sole owner since 1966.

History

Newton branch, corner of Queen Street and Karangahape Road

• 1872: NBNZ was founded in London as an overseas bank and shared many directors with Lloyds Bank.
• 1873: NBNZ Established branches in Wellington, Auckland, and Christchurch and acquired 13 branches from ailing Bank of Otago (1863-73), see William Larnach.
• 1873: The National Bank of New Zealand (Ltd) Act gave NBNZ the right to issue banknotes redeemable (in specie or gold).
• 1919: Lloyds Bank acquired a small interest in NBNZ.
• 1966: Lloyds Bank purchased NBNZ outright. National Bank and the Bank of New Zealand established joint data processing services, which they combined as Databank Systems Limited in 1967.
• 1969: NBNZ established a branch in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.
• 1978: NBNZ moved its head office from London to Wellington.
• 1986: NBNZ sold its banking license in Rarotonga to European Pacific Banking Co.
• 1987: NBNZ acquired Southpac Investment Management Limited
• 1992: NBNZ purchased The Rural Bank Limited, the former New Zealand Government owned bank, from Fletcher Challenge

A National Bank Cashpoint

• 1998: NBNZ purchased Countrywide Banking Corporation from Bank of Scotland.
• 2003: ANZ purchased NBNZ from Lloyds TSB.
• 2005: Chief Executive Sir John Anderson retired. He had been Chief Executive of the National Bank since its acquisition of the Rural Bank and was head of the ANZ-National Bank's New Zealand operations. Graham Hodges became the new Chief Executive Officer.
• 2008: New CEO Mike Smith as part of ANZ Group

The National Bank's distinctive Black Horse logo dates back to 1677 London when Humphrey Stockes adopted it as sign for his shop. Stokes was a goldsmith and 'keeper of the running cashes', an early term for banker. When Lloyds Bank took over the site in 1884 it retained the horse as its symbol. The Black Horse became the symbol of the National Bank of New Zealand in 1978 when the bank transferred its Head Office from London to New Zealand. When ANZ bought NBNZ, it also bought the right to continue to use the Black Horse logo for seven years.

Advertising and sponsorship

The National Bank is the sponsor of New Zealand Cricket and sponsors all the home tournaments of the country. It also used to sponsor Black Caps, the national men's cricket team. The National Bank sponsors the National Bank of New Zealand Netball Cup. Its television advertisements have used the music of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.

External links

• National Bank of New Zealand