The bank was established in November 1866 under the name Hokitika Savings Bank during the West Coast Gold Rush under special banking legislation that separated
savings banks from
trading banks. The bank operated for the good of its users and was touted as a 'preventative to squandering'. In exchange for an exclusive regional franchise the bank received a government guarantee against default (Killerby & Smith, 2001). The guarantee was in the form of a guarantee of the savings bank
overdraft at the
Bank of New Zealand. Trustees of the bank were government appointed. The category of savings bank being abolished in 1987. For a period the bank was known as Trust Bank Westland after the individual savings banks that operated across the country created a network known as
Trust Bank. Trust Bank Westland withdrew from the Trust Bank Alliance and became simply 'Westland Bank'. However it was quickly purchased by
ASB Bank as the latter sought to expand and the brand disappeared from the West Coast. The branch in Westport operated from 1965 until 1994 when it became part of ASB and is still in operation at the same location. Like all of the savings banks and the
Post Office Savings Bank Westland Savings banks operated
passbook bank accounts and school banking programmes that involved students making regular deposits through schools. Westland Savings Bank's accounts were known as a "HIT Account" – HIT standing for "High Interest Trustee". ==Branches==