Post shop owner fighting to keep Kiwibank services despite several armed robberies

  • 05/12/2017

An Auckland Kiwibank franchise owner is distraught after the banking provider decided to pull out of his shop, saying the area was too dangerous.

Bhaskar Desai has been robbed six times in the past 12 years at his Owairaka post office, and he's even had a gun pointed at his face.

Kiwibank says that continuing to operate in the area is too dangerous, but Mr Desai says without the banking operation his shop would lose 85 percent of its business.

Mr Desai says he was given 30 days notice that Kiwibank was withdrawing services and the bank did not support him after the robberies.

He spoke to Three's The Project about the closure and why he wants to keep serving the community despite the risk.

"There is a bond which forms that is human. It makes society more vibrant. I intend to fight along with the community members... If I have to die for it I'm willing to do that," he said.

Watch the video for the full The Project interview.