Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — ANZ Amerika Samoa Bank employees from the Fagatogo branch were out again yesterday for their “Thank You” wave in the town area, thanking the community as the financial institution is set to officially shut down operations at 3p.m. today Sept. 30 — when the two branches are closed permanently.

The “Thank You” wave started on Monday, with other bank employees waving around the Tafuna area and the waves will continue through today.

ANZ announced on Mar. 31 the closing of its local operations, saying that the banking environment has changed significantly since ANZ entered the U.S banking community.

“Like all banks, ANZ is responding to this change by making sure we focus our capital and resources where it will have the most impact,” the bank said at the time. “Following a thorough review of our business in American Samoa, ANZ has made the difficult decision to close its branches and stop providing banking products and services in American Samoa.”

Lt. Gov. Talauega E.V. Ale told reporters three months ago, that ASG will not ask ANZ to remain in the territory, saying that the financial institution made a business decision to leave American Samoa and that decision had been made years ago and in fact ANZ stopped making loans or investing in American Samoa a very long time ago.

ANZ’s departure leaves the government owned non-FDIC insured, Territorial Bank of American Samoa as the only financial institution on island, but Samoa News has already learned from many local residents that they have also opened accounts with U.S based FDIC-insured banks and federal insured credit unions — which offer higher interest rates in savings and money-market accounts. Military-related credit unions appear to be popular with local residents.

ANZ began scaling down operations on Aug. 01 this year, based on an already set time-table and that at 3p.m. Sept. 30, all ANZ branches will close permanently and Night Depository Drop Boxes will cease to be able to be used.

From 6p.m today, access to view statements, balances and secure messages through ANZ Online Banking (OLB) will cease to operate.

Customers — both consumers and businesses —  were informed at the start of April to begin the process of closing down their accounts at ANZ and moving to other financial institutions.

“What will happen to my ANZ Amerika Samoa Deposit Account if I do not close it before September 30, 2022?” — Here’s the explanation from ANZ:

“Your account will be closed automatically and we will send a check for the remaining balance in your account to the mailing address associated with your account in our files.

“If you do not deposit our check with another bank before December 31, 2022, that check will be cancelled, and the amount of the check will be given to the American Samoa Government Department of the Treasury.

“If you want to claim the money after this has happened, you will need to file a request for your unclaimed money with the American Samoa Government Department of the Treasury. You can contact them on +1 (684) 633-4155 or at www.americansamoa.gov/contactus

“For those with a loan at ANZ, customers have been informed of what they need to do for repayments after Sept. 30.

“For questions, contact the bank at 633-1151 for information.”