Media Release
25 October 2005
PSIS Continues Expansion and Refurbishment Programme
As one of New Zealand’s longest serving Kiwi financial organisations and one of the few that has remained New
Zealand-owned, PSIS is continuing its branch network expansion and refurbishment programme.
The organisation now has 31 branches nationwide with three new branches being opened in recent times. In the last 12
months 12 branches have been refurbished, relocated or upgraded. Many of the relocations have been as a result of the
growth the company has experienced in the last three years.
Today the Blenheim branch, which has been bursting at its seams for some time, moved to a new Queen Street location
double the size of its predecessor and providing much improved facilities for our Marlborough customers. The branch now
has a real presence in the town.
In a banking environment where many of the big players are moving away from face-to-face customer service PSIS “puts an
emphasis on its customers as people,” Chief Executive Girol Karacaoglu said.
The Blenheim branch has the “new look” designed to reflect the PSIS personality, Dr Karacaoglu says.
“Our style is welcoming, friendly and great value. We want our branches to make our customers feel at home,” he says.
Dr Karacaoglu says PSIS has undergone many changes since its inception 77 years ago when it was established as a
co-operative organisation to provide low-cost finance to public servants, today PSIS offers full personal banking
services to all New Zealanders.
“While we offer the convenience of all the high tech on-line banking services, our personal relationships with our
customers continue to be the real focus for PSIS.
“The great thing about PSIS is that it was founded to help people, and that same philosophy of putting people before
profits still exists today. Our staff know they are there to help, not to sell.
“Our aim is to help everyday New Zealanders through life. And we do this by living up to our cooperative values and
working for our customers who are also our owners.”
A testament to the co-operatives success has been the annual results of an independent banking survey where PSIS has
been ranked first, three years in a row, in terms of its customer’s satisfaction.
ENDS