Ira Goldstein

Ira Goldstein is a fictional character played by Steve Mellor, who appeared in television and radio commercials for ASB Bank in New Zealand. The commercials were screened from January 2000 to October 2010 and were produced by TBWA / Whybin agency.

In the commercials, Goldstein worksd as an employee for a New York City bank and was sent to New Zealand by his boss R. J. Lincoln (played by Australian actor Bruce Venables) to "find out what makes that bank different". The first commercial in the series featured Goldstein explaining to his boss that people perceive all banks to be the same, with one exception – the ASB Bank. Initially, Goldstein's boss believed his bank is the one exception until he finds out it is located in New Zealand, to his bewilderment.

His boss appeared in most advertisements, usually by telephone from his New York office. However he did make visits to New Zealand to meet Goldstein, and to check up on him. Provided by Wikipedia