55 years of change

When I entered the workforce - as a batching clerk and ledger operator at ANZ’s Myrtleford branch in 1969 - the world was a different place.

What women could expect in the workforce was vastly different from today.

Women had to leave the bank once they were married, they were not allowed to join a superannuation fund until they were 25 years old and women could also not qualify for any type of loan.

On the other hand, women (and men) could happily smoke in offices and branches. Thankfully all these practices have been consigned to the historical rubbish bin.

I now work as an ANZ Subject Matter Expert in the Institutional division of the bank. At the end of this month, I will mark 55 years at ANZ.

It is a career in which I would have the privilege of being involved in ANZ’s first ventures into computer banking. I got to experience firsthand – and learned the skills – of increasingly powerful technology.

But first I had to graduate from the Myrtleford branch.

After two years in Myrtleford, I joined the Country Relieving Team. I would travel across the state for three-week stints in branches – across Mansfield, Alexandra, Echuca, Numurkah, Tallangatta, Cohuna, Walwa, Drouin, Yarram, Belmont, Geelong, Wodonga and Yarrawonga. I ended up as head teller at the Wodonga branch.

Many of those early tasks I undertook have now disappeared due to technological change – a mix of centralisation and automation.

These included verifying customers’ signatories prior to posting cheques to customers’ Ledger Cards and Statements and recording customer balances on an overdraft card daily for the branch manager to decide if any cheques should be dishonoured.

After a trip overseas I decided I wanted something else from my job. I took a short break without pay and travelled to New Zealand, England and Europe.

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New pathway

On my return I worked a variety of positions at 171 William Street until I ended up in Corporate Banking Headquarters at 55 Collins Street.

Aside from my job of being responsible for all the Lending Managers’ expenses and administration activities, I also had my first taste of technology.

I worked with the ANZ Commercial Bills team and the General Electric Company to develop, test and implement the first electronic Commercial Bills system in ANZ.

It started a new career pathway for me. I worked with a specialised Corporate team to design, develop, test and implement ANZTELL and the Remote Banking system.

Launched in 1984 ANZTELL was ANZ’s first corporate “videotex” system. A forerunner to todays interconnected world, it was a system to transmit text and graphics over a phone line.

(Years later I would then be involved implementing these systems replacements.)

In the coming decades I did everything from help design and test ANZ OnLine, the bank’s first electronic cash management system, to helping prepare ANZ for the year 2000 and the Y2K changes.

I attribute my varied career in technology to remembering my time, dealing with real customers and day-to-day issues, at the frontline.

Working across the Branch network, in Corporate Banking and interacting with key internal and external stakeholders is the main reason for my success and why I’ve enjoyed working at ANZ.

Today when I come to work, I am responsible for decommissioning Weblink payables and receivables program and Tandem IEB.

For perspective, when Weblink was introduced I had already been at the bank for 36 years. I think showing a willingness to learn means you can thrive and adapt in a modern lender.

I’ve built an extensive network within and developed the ability to connect people seeking information with those who can assist.

After all, while the technology changes, connections between people are constant.

Lyn Rock is a Product Owner within ANZ Institutional