WBS Annual Review 2026

WBS is a locally owned loan and investment provider, owned by our members and the WBS Charitable Trust.

We support our members with competitive investment and lending rates, and all our profits stay right here in the Wairarapa to help our community prosper.

OUR PURPOSE

To help our community prosper

OUR VALUES

Community Focused, Relevant, Dependable, Accessible, Flexible

OUR CREDIT RATING

The credit rating agency Fitch gave us a BB+ (stable) credit rating again this year, a secure rating that we’ve now had for over 18 years.

‘FY2026 was a positive year for WBS. We grew our lending and investment portfolios, improved profitability, and continued supporting our customers and community.

Thank you to our staff, Board, customers and supporters for helping us fulfil our purpose of helping our community prosper.’

John Healy, Chief Executive, WBS
Four adults stand together outdoors in front of a blue industrial building and white service vans, smiling at the camera.

Continued strong performance

WBS delivered a strong financial result in FY2026, with profit before tax increasing to $838,000 and equity growing to $29.2 million.

We also achieved solid growth in both lending and retail funding, strengthening our position for the future.

Equity

2.1%

Return

on equity

16%

Capital

Ratio

RBNZ Minimum
Requirement 8%

Call and Term

Deposits

(Retail Funding)

Loans to

customers

$703K

Operating

Profit

Before revaluations and taxes

2.2%

Net Interest

Margin

Three people stand together on a rocky riverbank in a green forest, posing for a photo.

Helping our customers prosper

We continued to support our members with competitive investment and lending rates throughout the year.

We were pleased to see continued growth in both investments and loans.

People who

invest

with us

Term investment accounts

Call investment accounts

People we lend to

72% Residential property mortgages
14% Property development loans
13% Commercial loans
1% Rural loans

Download our full 2026 Consolidated Financial Statements.

‘WBS strengthened its financial position this year while continuing to support our customers and community.

I would like to thank the WBS team, my fellow Directors and our investors for their ongoing support and commitment.’

Sarah Dalziell-Clout,
Chair, WBS Board of Directors
An older man holding a dragon head prop near his face at an outdoor event, others watch and take photos in a parking lot.

How we supported our community

As a member-owned organisation, all our profits stay in the Wairarapa.

Through WBS sponsorships and grants from the WBS Charitable Trust, we are proud to support local organisations, events and initiatives that help our community prosper.

%

of operating profit

before revaluations

and taxes

Number of

organisations

supported in 2026

Total spend

for the 2026

financial year

The types of groups

we support

Arts and culture, sports and recreation, environment and sustainability, education, community support.

‘Each year, we are reminded of the incredible work being done by community organisations across the Wairarapa.

Thank you to WBS’s investors and borrowers whose support enables the Trust to continue funding these important initiatives.’

John Booth, Chair, WBS Charitable Trust