NZ credit union inks deal to resell Telecoinabox services

Stan Beer
Monday, 04 April 2011 16:10

IT Industry - Deals

Financial cooperative New Zealand Credit Union (NZCU) South has signed an agreement with franchisor Telcoinabox to resell telecoms and broadband services to its members.

The franchise agreement, claimed to be the first of its kind for a banking institution in New Zealand, will initially enable NZCU to offer fixed line, mobile phone and broadband plans to  25,000 South Island based members.

Telephone packages will be released to South Island members this April.

Member to member mobile call rates will start at NZ15 cents/minute and NZ35 cents/minute to non-members.

'As a co-op we are about offering our members financial support and reducing their telecommunications' bills is just one way we can help,' says NZCU South CEO Andrew Leys.

'In the wake of the Christchurch disaster we believe more New Zealanders will be seeking ways to consolidate their spending so they can put money towards relief efforts.

'To encourage members to take up the offer we are stopping all transaction fees on any of their accounts with us. If the take up is great, the same offer will be extended to all 180,000 members nationwide.'

Telcoinabox NZ CEO Shannon Fisher says that since they opened the doors to organisations to become their own telecommunications reseller late last year, more companies like NZCU are realising the immediate win-win benefits.

'We focus on the customer, that's what we do best and Telcoinabox looks after the backend support and billing. It really couldn't be easier,' says NZCU South CEO Andrew Leys.

'Our philosophy is about creating a community support network and to continue on this path we are currently exploring power packages for our members based on the same arrangement we have with Telcoinabox.'

To support the Christchurch relief efforts, New Zealand Credit Union nationally has set up the Credit Union Earthquake Appeal which distributes funds through grants to affected members. Loan payment freezes have also been placed on Christchurch based members.