Weather-impacted customers are also reminded of the financial support available to them
ASB will donate $2 million to the New Zealand Red Cross New Zealand Disaster Fund, to help deliver response and recovery efforts to communities and customers devastated by Cyclone Gabrielle.
The disaster fund will be used by New Zealand Red Cross to help provide essential supplies such as stretchers, blankets, bedding, and hygiene kits, deploying satellite phones, generators, and other equipment. It will also be used to provide crucial psychosocial support and practical help to those who have been driven away from their homes. The fund will also help in empowering NZ communities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from future emergencies and disasters.
“While the scale and devastation of the floods is still being understood, it’s clear significant funding and support is going to be required help these regions get back on their feet,” ASB CEO Vittoria Shortt said. “It’s been incredible to see the hard work already underway in impacted areas and we’re encouraging other organisations, and any Kiwi in a position to help, to get behind the New Zealand Red Cross or other efforts such as local mayoral relief funds.”
Shortt also reminded customers of the financial support available to them.
“If you’ve been affected by recent weather events and you’re worried about immediate access to money, or how you’re going to pay your mortgage – please call us so we can help,” she said. “In particular, we’d encourage ASB customers whose homes are uninhabitable to reach out about the ex-gratia payments we have available – these can be processed fast, and they don’t need to be paid back. So far, we’ve paid more than $1 million in $2,000 grants and we know there are many more customers who will be eligible for this support.”
In addition to a one-off grant of $2,000, ASB is also offering a temporary overdraft for eligible personal customers with weather-related expenses or hardship at 0.01% pa – up to $2,000, or $5,000 if they are a home loan customer.
Broader financial support is also on offer for weather-impacted ASB customers, including the option to suspend home loan principal repayments for up to three months and targeted solutions for eligible business and rural customers, including access to working capital of up to $100,000.
For customers requiring financial support, they are urged to speak to their relationship manager or call 0800 272 735.
ASB’s Napier and Hastings branches are open throughout the week from 10am-2pm to assist customers requiring urgent banking services, while an around-the-clock effort is underway to reopen ASB’s Gisborne branch from Monday.
How are you or your organisation helping those impacted by the recent wild weather events? Share with us in the comments section below.
