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ASB Bank will begin opening its branches at 9:30 a.m. Instead of 9:00 a.m., Monday through Saturday, the bank announced Tuesday. The change, which takes effect immediately, is intended to provide staff with additional time for training and professional development, according to a statement released by the bank.

The altered opening hours will not affect Sunday trading or branches with existing half-day schedules. ASB confirmed the decision was made to bolster employee support and maintain service quality for customers.

The move comes as consumer banking habits continue to shift towards digital platforms. A recent survey by Consumer NZ found that the vast majority of New Zealanders now manage their banking needs through mobile applications, with only 4 percent citing in-person branch visits as their primary method of access.

Despite the increasing preference for online banking, Consumer NZ noted that branch access remains important for a segment of the population. The survey revealed that nearly one in five problems experienced by customers relating to their branch involved closures or reduced hours. The organization also found that even as bank switching rates remain low – only 3 percent of New Zealanders changed primary banks in the last year – 15 percent of those who did switch cited branch closures as a contributing factor.

ASB’s decision to adjust branch hours follows a recent increase in fixed home loan rates by the bank, ranging from 0.3 to 0.36 percentage points, including popular one and two-year fixed rate mortgages. Kiwibank also recently adjusted some of its rates. The rate increases reflect growing inflationary pressures and anticipation of potential adjustments to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s official cash rate.

The bank is also in the process of phasing out cheque usage, stating that cheques now account for less than 1 percent of all payments processed. No specific timeline for the complete elimination of cheques has been provided.

The search for Nancy Guthrie, mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, continues to unfold with a fresh detail emerging: the masked individual seen on doorbell camera footage at her Arizona home was present on a night prior to her disappearance, according to a source familiar with the investigation. This revelation adds another layer to the complex case that has gripped the Tucson community and drawn national attention.

Authorities believe 84-year-vintage Guthrie was abducted from her home on February 1st, but the newly surfaced information suggests the suspect had visited the property earlier. The FBI released images on February 10th showing the masked person, and a source has now indicated that one of the photos – the one where the suspect is not wearing a backpack – was taken before February 1st. This detail, first reported by ABC News, is prompting investigators to re-examine timelines and potential motives in the case.

Genesis Energy customers are facing electricity price rises at the end of March, despite assurances from the company’s chief executive that further increases were not planned. Some customers have been told to expect bill increases of up to 30 percent.

The conflicting messages emerged after Genesis Energy announced a near-doubling of its half-year profit, reaching $95 million for the period ending December 31st, compared to $70 million the previous year. The increase was attributed to higher hydro-generation and the ability to purchase cheaper electricity on the wholesale market, allowing the company to divert gas supply to industrial customers and reduce reliance on more expensive coal and gas-fired generation at Huntly.

Chief Executive Malcolm Johns initially stated on Newstalk ZB that there were “no plans in the immediate future” for price increases. However, customers began receiving letters as recently as Saturday, February 22nd, detailing price changes taking effect at the end of March. Stephen England-Hall, Genesis Energy’s chief revenue officer, clarified that Johns was referring to increases beyond those already communicated to customers.

England-Hall conceded he could not guarantee there would be no further price increases in 2026, attributing the current rises to broader inflationary pressures. “Over the last few years we’ve had price increases that we’ve tried to hold,” he said. “Since 2021… price increases have tried to be managed relatively efficiently and effectively, we’ve tried to not pass through full inflation costs to customers because we know that things have been challenging.”

Despite the price increases, England-Hall maintained that Genesis Energy offers a “fair proposition” to customers, positioning the company as being in the middle of the market in terms of pricing. He acknowledged that some competitors offer cheaper rates, while others are more expensive.

The company’s financial performance comes as the government is preparing to invest up to $200 million in new shares as part of a $400 million capital raise. The move aims to bolster Genesis Energy’s financial position, though details of the investment remain under discussion.