A drive-in bank

We think of banks as a necessary evil and there used to be a branch on every corner. Now some towns don’t even have a bank branch.
But once banks worked hard for customers. The Bank of New Zealand has been operating since 1861, first as a private company and later owned by National Australia Bank.
It was progressive - it opened the first “Ladies” bank in Auckland on December 14, 1958 on the corner of Queen and Swanson st, catering exclusively for women. BNZ were starting to recognise women - who often had had to have their husbands permission to have a bank account - had their own needs.
The Ladies bank had soft armchairs, a fish tank and writing desks. At first competitors were rude about it, but after international publicity it was lauded.
The BNZ also opened the first bank in the Antarctic
But in 1954 BNZ opened New Zealand’s first “motor bank” - yes, a drive in bank.
On Vivian St, the bank was remodelled to allow cars to drive up to a window - armor plate glass in case of robberies - and two way speakers. A sliding drawer allowed exchanges between the teller and the customer in the car.
There were several reasons but one of the primary ones was safety.
We were a cash only society, and huge amounts of cash were being walked along streets, from shops taking in their daily take or businesses taking out their payroll.
The drive in was to help prevent the chance of someone being robbed of the money in the streets.
BNZ said customers with mobility issues would be able to bank without getting out of their cars and noted that customers were even using taxis to drive through.
It also meant you didn’t need to find a car park to go into the bank.
The idea was quickly picked up by other banks. BNZ’s Vivian st one was kept until 1987.
The Motor bank was opened by the Mayor of Wellington, Mr R. L . Macalister who said,
‘I feel that I am helping to make banking history in New Zealand’ as he cut the ribbon.
In 1966 the same bank became the first to have computers. By then the Vivian St branch had moved to a new building.
Robert McLachlan Macalister was the mayor of Wellington from 1950-1956. He had come to Wellington to study law before enlisting in the military for World War I.
He and two others founded the law firm Mazengarb, Hay and Macalister, one of the largest law firms in Wellington.
He was considered a persuasive and dynamic councillor and mayor. Later he received a knighthood and Macalister Park in Wellington is named after him.
He died at his Wadestown home on May 23, 1967 and is buried at Karori Cemetery.​