Gore pensioner denied cash withdrawal at SBS Bank branch

Wednesday 14 October 2026 · 3 outlets · 5 reports · updated Sat 17 Oct, 5:30am

Photo: Otago Daily Times (opens in new tab)

An 84-year-old Gore resident, Allistair Meikle, was unable to withdraw cash from his SBS Bank account in late September. The bank ceased branch cash services on 28 August, noting that fewer than 1% of members regularly use them. Mr Meikle, a customer for nearly 70 years, was referred to an ATM instead.

How they headlined it

First reported by Otago Daily Times, Wed 14 Oct, 5:00am · 5 reports from 3 outlets over 3 days

Otago Daily TimesWed 14 Oct, 5:00am

‘Acting as robbers’: Gore pensioner disgusted bank has no cash (opens in new tab)Premium
- ‘Nothing’s going to change’: Pensioner gets response on Gore bank’s no-cash service (opens in new tab) Sat 17 Oct, 5:30am
StuffWed 14 Oct, 4:49pm

84 year old denied cash withdrawal from bank he has been with for 70 years (opens in new tab)
- Bank’s treatment of 84-year-old who wanted cash at the teller is ‘outrageous’ - NZ First (opens in new tab) Thu 15 Oct, 12:47pm
The Press via StuffFri 16 Oct, 5:15pm

Bank’s treatment of 84-year-old who wanted cash ‘outrageous’, says NZ First (opens in new tab)