ANZ chief executive Pacific and Fiji, Vishnu Mohan (left) and ANZ House Suva branch manager, Francis Jione, cut a ribbon to officially open the newly-refurbished ANZ House in Suva. Photo: JONA KONATACI
By MARAIA VULA
The new-look ANZ House branch in Suva is expected to put customers at the centre of its new design.
ANZ chief executive Pacific and Fiji, Vishnu Mohan, said the $9 million investment in the refurbishment of ANZ House had completely transformed the building.
He said it gave a modern look to the branch that customers would be delighted to experience.
“We’ve restructured the branch floor plan completely and streamlined certain areas to focus on giving our customers the best possible banking experience,” he said.
Mr Mohan said the branch now had dedicated and expanded space for business customers and dedicated an area for personal customers.
“We purposely demarcated areas to accommodate these two very important yet very different customers’ needs.”
New features
Mr Mohan said the bank recognised the growing and evolving nature of its business and would always put the customers at the centre of its business.
“Our refurbished branch represents our dedication to meeting our customers’ immediate needs, while preparing for their future banking requirements, including alternative electronic banking channels,” he said.
Some new features include:
l A coin deposit machine
l Cash counting machine
lInternet and phone banking lobby
l Customer meeting room
l Cash recycling unit.
ANZ Pacific and Fiji Head of Retail Banking, Vanessa Dudley, said: “We have tested some new technology like the coin deposit machine and the cash recycling unit and others.
“It’s a phased approach and we have eight cash recycling units here. Another four will be installed soon one in Lautoka, one in Nadi hopefully before the end of the year.
“We have split this branch into personal and business customers to help them do their banking at an easier pace.”
Mr Mohan said the ANZ House branch would be a flagship for other bank branches in Fiji and the Pacific adding that it was refurbished in line with ANZ group standards.
Future plans
In terms of looking at future plans, Mr Mohan said their hands are full at the moment with this $9 million project.
But, he said there are still some fine works that needs to be completed like the interior of the upper floor.
“The next phase is changing the exterior completely like putting new glasses across the whole building and this will start on December 9 till end of February,” Mr Mohan said.
He said rural banking has got momentum and it’s doing well.
“The challenge we’re facing is getting customers to do internet banking and make more use of ATM machines,” he said.
“Also crowded banking hall where 50 per cent of customers are waiting to cash their cheques or make deposits.
“We need to differentiate customers and redirect them to ATM machines so that the banking hall is not crowded.”