An investment of nearly $8.0 million has been marked by the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ) Fiji for branch refurbish­ments across Fiji.

The refurbished branches will have a modern outlook.

The bank will also have a nurs­ery area for their female employees who have babies but have returned to work but still need to feed them.

“Where possible, we also support our staff to work flexible hours,” ANZ Bank Fiji chief executive of­ficer Saud Minam said.

ANZ’s Nausori branch is the latest to undergo a transformation.

Mr Minam said the branch will have the latest banking concept with state-of-the-art equipment.

Commitment

Mr Minam said the bank is com­mitted towards its staff and cus­tomers.

Mr Minam said the refurbish­ment designs were planned with the main aspect being to lessen the waiting time for customers inside the bank and at the same time have “state-of-the-art” facilities at their disposal.

“We will retain the culture of the bank that is to take care of custom­ers, staff and their families,” Mr Minam said.

“Nausori town itself is develop­ing. The population between Suva and Nausori is rising and job op­portunities are high.”

Mr Minam said the refurbishment of the bank was also important in that visitors arriving into Nausori town through the airport saw the bank as the first point of contact.

“The Nausori airport will be up­graded soon, so that is one of the many reasons for investing in the Nausori branch,” he said.

“As you enter the bank on the right, you will find the business and enquires area who will deal with customers regarding savings, loans, time deposits and all other matters.

“Right opposite the bank’s entry is the branch manager’s office and after the manager’s office are the general tellers.”

The ANZ Nausori branch will also have access for people with special needs.

“ANZ bank Nausori branch will be equipped with a nursing room and a sick bay,” Mr Minam said.

Digital features

One stand out feature of the bank is the stand-up i-pad with full Wi-Fi available for customers to carry out their account checks, transfer of funds, telegraphic transfers or pay­ment of bills.

And this could be done through the ANZ’s Pacific app which could be downloaded from Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store.

Mr Minam said through this app, customers will have convenience; banking on fingertips.

Mr Minam said the customers could then check their accounts later through online banking to see that the deposit has been done.

Mr Minam said: “With 137 years in service, we would like to take lead in driving digital agenda and new way of working in Fiji.”

He said they have approximately 9,000 customers banking at the Nausori branch and would like to increase this by offering flexible and superb customer service.

Other branch upgrades

Mr Minam also said they plan to upgrade other branches in Fiji, in­cluding Namaka, Lami and Labasa.

“We want to make sure that all our branches provide convenience and quality service to our customers, while also helping our customers embrace digital ways of banking,” he said.

“Also keeping in mind that a lot of our customers own their vehicles, we are looking at sites where we can have ample parking spots.

“ANZ was established in Fiji 137 years ago and a lot has changed since. So not only need to change with the times, we also need to change to stay ahead of competi­tion.”

According to Mr Minam ANZ Fiji has about 34 per cent market share in Fiji.

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