After a delay, the regional banking hubs trial will start in November.

The trial of the hubs, which will have a smart ATM which takes deposits and allows withdrawals, will be in Twizel, Martinborough, Stoke and Opunake.
Tablets and phones will be available for other basic transactions at the banking hubs and staff will be on site to help.

ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Kiwibank, TSB and Westpac are taking part in the trial which was announced last year by Finance Minister Grant Robertson.

Twizel will open on Nov. 17 and will be housed in a converted ANZ branch on Market Place.

The Martinborough Banking Hub is in the Waihinga Community Centre and opens on Nov. 27.

The Hardy St Pharmacy in Stoke will house a regional banking hub and open on Dec. 3.

In Opunake the Opunake Llibrary Plus will be the home of its regional banking hub. The Opunake hub will open on Dec. 7.

Banks have been closing branches or restricting opening hours at banks around New Zealand in response to transactions in branches declining.