CBA wins skirmish with ANZ

COMMONWEALTH Bank has won its skirmish with ANZ over bragging rights to the title of "Australia's most convenient bank".

CBA wins skirmish with ANZ

COMMONWEALTH Bank has won its skirmish with ANZ over bragging rights to the title of "Australia's most convenient bank''.

ANZ is understood to have agreed last week to withdraw its claim, and will revert to its less controversial assertion that it offers "more convenient banking''.

The case was sparked by a letter from law firm Gilbert + Tobin, on behalf of CBA, which said its client had a clear advantage over ANZ in terms of branch numbers, automatic teller machines and points of presence around the country.

Gilbert + Tobin threatened legal action unless ANZ dropped its advertising. ANZ was initially defiant, believing convenience could mean a number of things, including shorter queueing times.

It also has a call centre open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. CBA, though, has countered that it, too, has an always-open call centre operation.

A bank insider said yesterday that CBA had used the moniker "most convenient bank'' for a number of years, well before ANZ had adopted it.

ANZ personal division boss Brian Hartzer told The Australian last year that the bank, starting in 2002, had heavily researched a strategy that would differentiate it in the market, ultimately choosing convenience and simplicity.

He said ANZ had since invested money into reducing queue times, 24-hour call centres and convenience issues.

"If you stop someone in the street and ask them which bank provides more convenient banking, it's not certain they will say ANZ,'' Mr Hartzer said.

"But give us another year and they will.''