Since 1875, CBS Canterbury has provided high quality financial and personal banking services to individuals, groups and organisations, as well as farming and commercial businesses.

CBS Canterbury ( Canterbury Building Society ) is registered under the building societies act of 1965 and operates as a building society as distinct from being a registered bank. CBS Canterbury operates under its own Trust Deed, the trustee of which is Trustees Executors Limited. It is also the only publicly listed Building Society, being on the NZAX market of the New Zealand Stock Exchange.

CBS Canterbury specialises in a modern range of easy to use, easily understood banking products tailored to meet the needs of its clients.  The main emphasis is on providing loans secured by first ranking mortgages over residential, commercial and farming property.

The funds are obtained from a larger base of savings deposit and investment account clients. This is complimented with a wide range of general accounts, offering the flexible options of today’s banking services, yet still encouraging prudent savings and sound financial management.

Our strength has been, and continues to be, our people.  We have maintained a strong emphasis on personal service, and continue to see it as our first priority.  At the same time, we have embarked on a path of new technology development demanded by today's banking customers.  This combined with a prompt decision making process, a moderate fee structure and staff who value direct client relationships, places CBS Canterbury in a niche banking environment.

In recent years considerable growth has been achieved with SMC Building Society in 2006, and the Loan and Building Society in 2008 merging into the CBS Canterbury regional brand.

Today CBS Canterbury has total assets of approximately $550 million with 70 staff operating out of branches in Ashburton, Christchurch (2), and Rangiora.