Briefs: Hartzer sets date, Moody's reviews Arab Bank abroad, NZers skimmed

  • Brian Hartzer will begin work as head of Westpac's financial services business in Australia in the middle of June, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. Hartzer is serving a long notice period as head of the retail division of Royal Bank of Scotland.
  • Moody's Investors Service will widen its review of the credit ratings of Arab Bank Australia to take into account a broader review of Arab Bank's overall ratings. This review reflects, in turn, a review of the sovereign credit rating of Jordan. A month ago Moody's said the review of the Baa2/P-2 long and short term credit ratings of Arab Bank Australia was based on the credit quality of the bank's business in Australia, rather than with any wider issues relating to the business and funding of its Jordanian-based owner.
  • Scores of bank customers in New Zealand have had funds stolen from their accounts over the long weekend in what may be an incidence of skimming fraud. Bank of New Zealand and Westpac confirmed the thefts to Fairfax Media. The thieves used ATMs in Canada to withdraw cash from accounts using what are presumed to be duplicate cards.