Hamilton gunpoint bank robbery second in few hours

A man carrying a double-barrelled shotgun held up a Hamilton West bank this afternoon - the second bank robbery in the city in the space of a few hours.

The armed man walked into the Frankton branch of Kiwibank shortly before 3pm.

He approached two female tellers pointing the shotgun at them, Detective Sergeant Dave Grace of Hamilton CIB said.

"He's then demanded cash be put into some plastic bags on the counter and then left the bank, putting his gun into a green bag he was wearing over his shoulder."

Police estimated the robber was in the bank, on the corner of Kent and Commerce Sts, for about two minutes, which would have seemed a long time for both staff and bank customers.

"It appears four customers were in the bank at the time of the robbery. However one managed to leave and we would like to speak to that person," said Mr Grace.

Police were reviewing security footage and interviewing staff and other witnesses this afternoon, he said.

The offender was described as a large, solidly built male, wearing blue jeans, a dark hooded sweatshirt, beanie and dark sunglasses, with a black scarf around the lower part of his face.

Police wanted to hear from anyone who saw a person matching that description either before or after the robbery.

"In this situation we commend the bank staff for complying with the robber's demands to ensure no one was hurt," Mr Grace said.

Given the serious nature of the offence we very much want to hear from anyone with information on who this man may be."

Earlier today, a man entered the Westpac bank on the corner of Grey and Clyde Sts in Hamilton East and passed a note to a female teller demanding money.

He walked out with an undisclosed amount of cash and disappeared.

He was described as being light skinned, clean shaven and of slim build, wearing a bright orange road worker's jacket and dark glasses.

- NZPA