Politicking over the Big Four's New Zealand subsidiaries continues, with Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones lobbying for regulations to force the banks to keep open branches in regional towns. Jones, a NZ First MP, has taken over from party leader Winston Peters (now deputy Prime Minister in the coalition government) in pushing for more regulation of the Australian-owned banks.Jones has spoken with both the Reserve Bank governor and the Finance Minister about including the issue of frontline financial services in phase two of the government's monetary policy inquiry, being undertaken by an independent advisory panel.Finance Minister Grant Robertson said he would look at how to incorporate the issue into the review. RBNZ governor Adrian Orr, was asked by Jones about including a provision of service requirement in bank licensing."He just warned me, obviously, against pushing a perspective that would require entities like those banks to operate in an economic sub-optimal manner, and I would expect the governor of the Reserve Bank to say that," Jones said.The Australian-owned banks have asked to meet with Jones and the Government to discuss his demands.