The assistance package takes effect starting this week
ANZ Bank New Zealand is offering an assistance package to businesses impacted by the heavy rain and flooding brought by Cyclone Hale in Tairāwhiti (Gisborne) and the Coromandel Peninsula.
“Our thoughts are with those dealing with damage and destruction to the community and their businesses,” said Lorraine Mapu, ANZ managing director of business. “Farmers and business owners will be focussed on protecting their livelihood, repairing damage, and making sure livestock are safe.
“We’re offering targeted assistance for business customers, like temporary overdraft facilities and the ability to defer loan repayments, to take some of the financial pressure off so people can focus on the bigger issues they are dealing with right now.”
The range of measures available to ANZ customers affected by the extreme weather events include:
- short-term funding to cover unexpected costs arising from extreme weather
- Suspending or reducing loan principal repayments
- waiving notice period requirements and removal of any interest rate recovery costs associated with early access of term deposit funds
- waiving fees associated with restructuring business loans considered necessary due to impacts of extreme weather
- waiving fees for term finance and investments which have the potential to improve performance and the ability to respond to climatic variation in future years
“We can also explore a range of other options for customers under financial pressure, and we’d encourage people to get in touch early so we can see how we can help,” Mapu said.
Business customers should speak to their relationship manager to discuss the impact on their business and their funding requirements, while other customers should contact the bank on 0800 269269.
Have experience with Cyclone Hale? Let us know in the comment section below.
