Westpac Banking's (NZE:WBC, ASX:WBC) New Zealand unit started its second community banking van service in the South Island, according to a Tuesday statement from the bank.

The vans will be staffed with specially trained bankers who will provide customers with non-cash services and assist with a range of enquiries, the statement said.

The bank expects to start a community banking van at Northland in March and a fourth van later this year, the statement added.

Shares of the Bank rose past 1% in recent Tuesday trade in Australia, and its Kiwi shares rose 2% and earlier hit a 52-week high.