A bank robber described as "highly aggressive" has fled a bank in east Hamilton with an unknown amount of money.
Police have praised the actions of Kiwibank staff in the Hillcrest shopping centre just before noon.
A lone man entered the bank and pointed a gun at a female teller. He demanded money and fled the bank on foot. It was not yet known how much cash he got away with.
Detective Sergeant Karl Moon, of Hamilton CIB, said long established protocols for bank staff dealing with volatile situations had paid off, with the bank staff's compliance giving little opportunity for the offender to be drawn into any confrontation.
"He was described as highly aggressive and pointed the firearm in the face of a female teller before demanding money and fleeing the bank on foot with a yet to be determined sum of cash," Mr Moon said.
"We ask people confronted by such situations to comply with the offender's demands; money and materials can be replaced whereas lives can't, if you find yourself faced by such a threat do as the offender says and record details which police can follow up later."
Police want to hear from anyone who may have noticed a man acting suspiciously near the Hillcrest shops before the robbery or who may seen someone running toward State Highway One or the area near the Hillcrest Primary School shortly after noon.
