Westpac New Zealand is offering reassurances to customers concerned about falling house prices

It's net profit's risen a 12-percent in the year to September, on the back of strong lending growth, and selling its life insurance business.

Chief executive Catherine McGrath says after a year of volatility and rising living costs, many Kiwis will be feeling uncertain about the future.

She says the bank is proactively contacting customers at risk of hardship, or who might experience big mortgage rate increases.

McGrath says they are coinciding with a fall in house prices, but recent home buyers who've bought for the long term, shouldn't be worried about their property's current value.