The Chief Executive Officer of ANZ Fiji has announced new initiatives for its customers starting next month.

While speaking at the Diwali cocktail at Borron House last night, Norman Wilson revealed that come next month a new Money Transfer Card will come into effect that will allow the Pacific community living in Australia to send money back home to their families in a more convenient and cost effective way, a new wireless EFTPOS machine will be introduced and a brand new branch at Tappoo City in Central Suva offering a wide range of services will open.

Wilson said the Bank has more surprises which will be revealed in due course.

Wilson said ANZ fully shares the government and the Reserve Bank's initiatives for closer consultation and agrees that they are essential to Fiji's long term future.

He said it is reassuring to see that last month's official RBF statistics shows the total Fiji deposit market grew by just over 5 percent and ANZ deposits grew in line with this for the period September 2009 to September 2010.

He said ANZ retains a share of over 40 percent of the total deposits in the market and these market share statistics also show that ANZ has by far the largest market share in assets or loans rising from its dominant 45.7 percent to 46.5 percent, inclusive of foreign currency.

He said the only other bank showing a small increase was Bank of Baroda with all the other banks' market shares declining slightly.

Meanwhile, Wilson said that having attended and witnessed Diwali celebrations and events in Hong Kong, Singapore, Osaka and Jakarta, the Fiji festivities and celebration stood out the most for him as he has never seen one where people, regardless of their background or age B embrace the spirit of the event and dress up for it as well.

 
Story by: Sneh Chaudhry