"In 1947, the Auckland Savings Bank became the first New Zealand bank to celebrate its centenary, which makes it's direct successor, ASB Bank Ltd, the country's oldest bank. The organisation began when Auckland was still a village. It was established altruistically by civic leaders to help working people save for their future. The tradition of community leaders acting as ASB trustees became firmly established last century and a result has been that the people of the bank have been intimately asociated with the wider history of the city. This book has tried to reflect that association by setting the story of the bank within an outline of the story of the community." -- Inside front cover.