Westpac Provides Disaster Relief Packages for Customers in North Queensland

SYDNEY, Australia, Feb. 1 -- Westpac Banking issued the following news release:

Westpac today announced that its Disaster Relief Package is available for customers who are suffering hardship as a result of flooding in North Queensland.

Westpac State General Manager for Queensland Greg Crocombe said the bank's Disaster Relief Package offers immediate practical help to assist customers with their finances.

"Our thoughts are with those communities right across Australia who have been impacted by these severe natural disaster events. We know that times like this can be extremely hard emotionally, physically as well as financially, which is why we are committed to providing whatever support and assistance we can," Mr Crocombe said.

"By offering support to our customers we hope to help alleviate any concerns they may have about their financial commitments so they can instead concentrate on their loved ones and the pressing issues at hand."

The Westpac Disaster Relief Package offers various options*, including the following:

* Affected customers with Westpac home loans may apply to defer repayments for up to three months;

* Affected businesses can request loan restructuring without incurring the usual bank fees such as establishment fees and break costs;

* Affected credit card customers may apply to defer repayments to their card for up to 90 days;

* Customers wishing to purchase replacement goods may apply for a personal loan at a discounted interest rate with no establishment fee;

* Westpac may waive interest rate adjustments for affected customers wishing to withdraw term deposits; and

* Affected Westpac customers with Home and Contents insurance may be eligible to receive assistance under the terms of their insurance policies for emergency accommodation.

Westpac customers who wish to utilise these special relief measures or need assistance should contact Westpac Assist on 1800 067 497, or alternatively call their local Bank Manager. This offer is available for customers to take up within three months of today's date.

Insurance customers

All affected insurance customers should contact Westpac on 1800 198 229 so that we may assist. Claims can be lodged 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling this number.

Our assessors are on the ground and ready to assist all customers in the worst affected areas. Customers should not put themselves at risk by going into affected areas to retrieve insurance documents or to take photographs. We understand proof of loss may not be possible and we will accept the word of customers in these instances.