Timeline

The following is a timeline of the bank in PNG.

(We're still putting it together, so please let us know important dates)

Date	Event
10 May 1910	The Bank of New South Wales opened its doors for business in Port Moresby
15 June 1910	Samarai Branch opened for business
17 June 1926	First Branch in the mandated territory of New Guinea opened in Rabaul
1926	Salamaua gold agency conducted
5 July 1927	Kavieng Branch opened
10 September 1929	Salamaua Branch opened
3 June 1933	Wau Branch opened
3 December 1937	Madang Branch opened
30 June 1940	Operations ceased at Kavieng Branch
31 August 1941	Operations ceased at Madang Branch
17 November 1941	Lae Branch opened
4 January 1942	First air raid by the Japanese Imperial army on Rabaul
21 January 1942	The Japanese invasion forces force the closure of both Lae and Rabaul Branches. Lae Branch records are saved and later buried, but have never been relocated.
22 January 1942	Salamaua and Wau Branches closed
24 January 1942	Samarai Branch closed
5 February 1942	Port Moresby Branch closed and records sent to Queensland
11 November 1946	Business resumed in Papua and New Guinea
12 May 1947	Lae Branch reopens
10 May 1948	Rabaul Branch reopens
28 July 1953	Kokopo agency to Rabaul opens for business
28 September 1953	The Bank returns to the goldfield area and opens a branch at Bulolo
26 November 1953	Madang Branch reopens
7 January 1954	Samarai Branch reopens
7 April 1955	The first Highlands branch is opened at Goroka
2 May 1955	Boroko is opened as an agency to the Port Moresby Branch
1 June 1955	Papua and New Guinea division came into being (being separated from the control of the Queensland inspector)
19 January 1956	Bank of New South Wales Savings Bank Limited began operation
3 May 1958	Lae Native Market is opened as an agency to the Lae Branch
8 June 1964	The bank expands into the Western Highlands and opens in Mt. Hagen to service the new agricultural industries.
2 March 1967	Boroko agency is converted to a full branch. Konedobu agency to Port Moresby is opened.
17 November 1969	Kieta branch is opened to service the Bougainville Copper Mine
21 October 1971	Kimbe branch is opened. Banz agency is closed.
6 May 1974	Wewak branch is opened
6 July 1974	Waigani branch is opened
23 July 1975	Bank of New South Wales (PNG) Ltd is registered and business is transferred from the parent bank
16 September 1975	PNG Independence Day
1 October 1975	The Bank of New South Wales (PNG) Ltd takes over the business of the Bank of New South Wales in the newly formed country of Papua New Guinea.
21 March 1977	Alotau Branch is opened and Samarai becomes a bank staffed agency
23 December 1977	Popondetta Branch is opened
6 February 1978	Mendi is opened as a sub branch to Mt Hagen
11 November 1978	Kavieng Branch is opened
3 December 1979	Kainantu Branch is opened
1 July 1980	Bialla is opened as a sub branch to Kimbe
15 Jan 1981	Lorengau is opened as a sub branch to Rabaul
26 April 1981	Training Centre in Port Moresby is opened
6 July 1981	Kiunga sub branch to Port Moresby opens to serve Ok Tedi Mining
1 July 1982	Arawa Branch is opened and Kieta becomes a sub branch
1 October 1982	Name change to Westpac Bank - PNG - Limited
11 July 1983	Tabubil sub branch is opened at Ok Tedi
11 July 1983	Waigani Branch has its Savings Accounts computerised
10 October 1983	Gusap sub branch is opened to service Ramu sugar employees
1984	Waigani Branch becomes fully computerised. Alotau, Lae and Popondetta have their Savings Accounts computerised
1985	Boroko and Port Moresby branches become computerised
1995	First Bank in PNG to establish an EFTPOS system (Goldcard & Handycard).
27 February 1997	Lorengau sub-branch closed
15 June 1998	Mendi closed due to rising Law & Order problems
16 October 1998	Kainantu closed.
30 October 1998	Kiunga (former sub-branch to Tabubil) closed
9 September 2000	First bank in PNG to launch Telephone Banking
May 2010	100 years in PNG celebrations

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Last updated 22nd August 2012