Rabobank New Zealand Ltd has joined the New Zealand Bankers' Association bringing the total number of banks in the association to nine.

NZBA Chief Executive Sarah Mehrtens welcomed Rabobank's decision to join. "The Association represents the common interests of the major players in the sector," she said.

Rabobank has been operating in New Zealand here since 1994 and bought the finance and lending arm of PGG Wrightson in 1998.

It is part of the international Rabobank Group, a Dutch-based specialist in food and agribusiness banking. In New Zealand it is a leading rural lender and also provides corporate and commercial banking services to the food and agribusiness industries.

Rabobank New Zealand General Manager Ben Russell said Rabobank wanted to play a full part in the commercial and banking life of New Zealand.

Other members of the NZBA are: ANZ National, BNZ, Westpac, ASB, Kiwibank, TSB, HSBC and Citibank. There are 19 registered banks in New Zealand.