ANZ Bank
I picked this bank originally as I liked their blue colour scheme and the ASB Bank sounded a bit too much like the ASS Bank.

I had an account with ANZ the first time I visited New Zealand and was impressed with their service. Opening the account took about 20 minutes and in that time they gave me my ATM / EFTPOS card on the spot and let me choose a pin. "What do you mean here's my card? You mean I don't have to wait 4 weeks for it to be delivered to the wrong address and then wait another 3 weeks for the PIN?"

Anyways, I left NZ later that year and closed the account. (Got the account balance by cheque in sterling within a week of returning to the UK)

Three years later I return to New Zealand and go back to ANZ to open another account.
I mention that I've had an account before and the nice lady says "Is this you?" and points at my old account details. I say "That's me" and she goes "OK", clicks the mouse and says "I've reactivated your account, here's a new cash card"

No utility bills, no ridiculous security questions - just decent common sense and good service.
( scoshi pretending to diet since, Tue 21 Jul 2009, 10:36, 8 replies)

Sounds like heaven (and I don't mean the gay nightclub in South London).
And I love the fact you chose the bank based on the colourscheme. *clicks*
( SpankyHanky, Tue 21 Jul 2009, 11:34, closed)

Colours are important
It's the reason I choose ASDA over Sainsburys.
( scoshi pretending to diet since, Tue 21 Jul 2009, 11:50, closed)

They're really good!
I love ANZ, I'm with them too. I ditched the Commonwealth Bank after it decided I wasn't allowed to access my own money in my internet account at all.
(Poppet some assembly required., Tue 21 Jul 2009, 11:51, closed)

I bank with ANZ because they have truely fucking fantastic customer service.
But their online banking is so bad.

I'm with Westpac for the online bankage :)


Also, ANZ's finally replacing their telling program from roughly 23 years ago.... because they've run out of 8MB hard disk drives for the old system :p

The new system isn't even as good, which makes me giggle.

YEAH EIGHT MEG HDD SUP.
(Scritty Bakerman., Tue 21 Jul 2009, 11:51, closed)

It's better then the damn Commonwealth Bank!
/seethes
(Poppet some assembly required., Tue 21 Jul 2009, 11:53, closed)

I have a computer in front of me with a 5MB HDD.
Still works too, just.
( idonthaveafunnynickname Drink-Aware? Sure. I'm aware I want another drink., Tue 21 Jul 2009, 20:16, closed)

It does seem
that banks in most countries other than the UK are significantly better and have less ridiculous rules. *clickyclick
(MightyX5 living on a small island on, Tue 21 Jul 2009, 13:49, closed)

It's not just banks
I moved into a wooden cabin in Queenstown and needed to get the electricity connected.

I walked 100 yards to the payphone - rang the freephone number, asked if I could have my electricity connected and gave my name and address - another nice lady said "sure".
I say in reply "so when do you think a man will come and do it?" and she laughs and says "we've just connected you, you'll get your first bill in a month".
"Err... ok! thanks!"

Sure enough, I get back, turn the master switch on and the power is running.
( scoshi pretending to diet since, Tue 21 Jul 2009, 15:20, closed)