The Kiwi boss of ANZ has pledged to look at cutting credit card rates at a parliamentary inquiry.

In just five years, more than 150 branches of NZ's major banks have disappeared, and more are earmarked to go the same way.

As more people do online transactions, small towns must adapt to closures.

New Zealand firms had a more positive outlook in September about both their own prospects and the wider economy.

The children and babywear retailer's revenue sank with store closures and a struggling international wholesale business.

Westpac staff at 19 branches around the country are expected to be told late today whether their branch will close.

The mayors of two towns facing the prospect of two major banks closing up shop within weeks of each other say people are shocked at

ANZ bank, the country's largest bank, could be closing branches around New Zealand.

ANZ has started to refund $28.8 million to more than 390,000 accounts after the bank failed to disclose when some fee payment fees would apply.

The Taranaki farmers bought controversial interest rate swaps from the bank.

The number of home loans and amount being borrowed has dipped ahead of further lending restrictions, but one mortgage broker says

Kiwibank is cutting 0.20 percentage points off its floating rate mortgages, while ANZ, ASB and Westpac will shave a smaller amount.

Westpac has now joined ANZ bank and cut mortgage rates after the Reserve Bank dropped the OCR this morning.

The measure of economic activity using traffic data slowed down last month.

COMMENT: Normally the banks would just pass on the Cash Rate cut to mortgage borrowers and term-deposit savers, but this time is likely to be different.

Helicopter rides and late night trips to hotels are par for the course for bankers to New Zealand's wealthiest.

Economists say the drop was largely seasonal, as construction remained positive.

The legal status of New Zealanders in Australia faces a test after Perth-based Kiwis Charles and Judith Cairns were granted leave

The Reserve Bank driven the exchange rate down after it signalled a likely cut in the cash rate next month and raised possibility of further reduction.

WATCH: Liam Dann talks to economist Christina Leung and fund manager Matthew Goodson about lending restrictions.

All four big banks are now applying new lending restrictions to home loans - six weeks ahead of the Reserve Bank's official September deadline.

COMMENT: If the Government needed another wake-up call it's got one.

A top banker's dire warning about Auckland's house prices shows there is a "complete crisis" in the property market, economist Shamubeel Eaqub says.

The chief executive of New Zealand's largest bank has warned that the property market may face a "messy end".

ANZ faces three separate High Court claims from farmers who bought controversial financial products from the country's largest bank.

New Zealand firms turned optimistic about the state of the economy in the June quarter.

Jetstar employees are facing at least a day with no pay due to a glitch at ANZ.

ASB is the fourth major bank to impose lending restrictions on foreign home buyers.

BNZ has joined ANZ Bank and Westpac's local unit in restricting mortgage lending for foreign property buyers.

Two of our biggest banks will no longer lend to overseas-based buyers of New Zealand property.