KEY POINTS:
Police are hunting a gunman after a daring robbery at a Palmerston North bank today.
Detective Sergeant David Clifford said the man, carrying what appeared to be a small handgun, approached a teller at the BNZ bank on Rangitikei St about 12.35pm.
The man demanded money from one of the three tellers in the bank and ran off with an unspecified amount of cash.
He was seen running into a Woolworths supermarket.
The bank is a "tiny" branch and no customers were in the premises at the time, Mr Clifford said.
The teller was coping well, but these encounters inevitably brought stress and trauma, he said.
"Often it's not until a bit later, after the police have gone and they've had time to sit down and think about it."
The man was described as in his mid 20s, unshaven, of slim build, with dark hair.
He was wearing a bright red beanie, dark sunglasses, a dark hoodie and dark blue jeans.
- NZPA
