BNZ is once again closing its doors for one day and sending its staff into the Bay of Plenty to work with community groups – and project submissions are now open.

Closed for Good will see the bank shut each of its stores on Wednesday, August 31, and up to 5500 BNZ staff will get stuck in, helping community organisations around New Zealand.

BNZ staff doing their bit to help the community.

BNZ chief executive Anthony Healy says Closed for Good is a highlight on the calendar for BNZ people who enjoy being able to work alongside community groups to support the work they do.

'Now in its seventh year, Closed for Good is New Zealand's largest volunteer day with BNZ people helping with everything from fence painting to cleaning up public spaces to running scam savvy workshops – we want to hear from any Bay of Plenty community group who needs a job done.

'Last year we helped on over 500 different projects nationwide with many BNZ people providing their specialised skills to help with things like helping with budgeting, business planning and advice or running a financial literacy workshop – so think broadly and BNZ can be at the ready with helping hands.

'Volunteering is one of the unsung heroes of our economy and being part of closed for Good doesn't have to end with one day. All our staff have a second day of volunteering and often Closed for Good is a starting point for long term connections in our local communities.”

In 2015 there were a range of Closed for Good initiatives in the Bay of Plenty including:

• Gardening in the community gardens at Brookfield Primary School

• Spring cleaning at the Kawerau SPCA
• Sorting through stock at the Papamoa Toy Library
• Running a 'Scam Savvy” workshop at CCS Disability Action

Submissions for this year's projects close on July 15.

To find out more about how Closed for Good can help and to submit a project, visit www.closedforgood.org