Stay calm and know the facts.

The United States is such a dominant global player that when it’s in crisis, the whole world watches. It’s important to remember, in times of uncertainty, New Zealand’s banking system remains in a strong position.

It’s not, therefore, a time to make hasty decisions – it’s a time to stand back and look at the facts:

• As a New Zealand banking institution, Westpac is well regulated, well capitalised and profitable.
• Westpac New Zealand Limited has a guarantee under the New Zealand deposit guarantee scheme.
• Westpac is the bank of the New Zealand Government, and has been since 1989.
• Westpac New Zealand as part of Westpac Banking Corporation is currently one of only 17 banks worldwide to have Standard & Poor’s AA rating*, reinforcing our strong capacity to meet all of our financial commitments.
• When financial institutions around the world were buying and selling US sub-prime mortgages, we chose not to – we have no direct exposure to the US sub-prime market.
• History shows the market will recover; in the last 25 years there have been six serious market downturns.
• To provide you with added confidence, Westpac has been looking after New Zealand’s investments since 1861 – so we have the experience and the knowledge.