(25 February 2010 – New Zealand) Rabobank New Zealand Limited has joined the nation’s major banks in becoming a member of the New Zealand Bankers’ Association (NZBA).The New Zealand Bankers’ Association was established in 1891 and is a forum for member banks to work together on a co-operative basis developing self regulatory codes of practice and interbank procedures.
Membership to the non-profit unincorporated association is open to any bank registered under the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act 1989; Rabobank bank brings the total number of registered banks in the organisation to nine out of 19.
The NZBA’s chief executive, Sarah Mehrtens, welcomed Rabobank’s decision to join.
The association represents the common interests of the major players in the sector, Ms Mehrtens said.
Ben Russell, general manager, Rabobank New Zealand, said that Rabobank wanted to play a full part in the commercial and banking life of New Zealand.
The NZ agribusiness bank is part of Rabobank Group, a Dutch-based specialist in food and agribusiness banking providing corporate and commercial banking services.
Other members of the NZBA include ANZ, BNZ, Westpac, ASB, Kiwibank, TSB, HSBC and Citibank.