FIRST Union Finance Sector Secretary Andrew Casidy said that all New Zealanders should be concerned about the BNZ’s casino branch, which is being sued after a fraudster cashed cheques for tens of thousands of dollars at the branch.

“The same ‘chasing profit’ mentality that brings us unachievable targets for bank workers brings us banks operating inside casinos open up to 15 hours a day, seven days a week.”

“Better responsible lending provisions for bank would help change this ethos in our banks. The views of bank staff need to be taken into greater account to make sure that the needs of people are more important than an endless growth in profits.”

Problem Gambling Foundation chief executive Graeme Ramsey told the New Zealand Herald that the branch and its opening hours were socially questionable. “If the bank was concerned about problem gambling, then I’d think they would want to question those hours.’