Businesses say it has got tougher to get a basic bank account as banks tighten up who they will offer services to.

Richard Tacon, chief executive of NZX-listed coal miner, Bathurst Resources, said it was now looking for a third bank to handle its accounts after being given notice by Westpac five years ago and then ANZ six months ago.

"We were originally banked by Westpac out of Queenstown and that was going along swimmingly until five years ago and through their ESG [environmental, social and governance] declarations they wanted to get out of any exposure to coal and particularly thermal coal."

At the time 100 per cent of Bathurst's business was thermal coal but changes since meant only 30 per cent of its revenue came from that, he said.

Massey University Business School associate professor Claire Matthews said this iss uncommon  but it is happening more.

She told Heather du Plessis-Allan banks are looking closer at their portfolios and taking greater account of customer concerns.

"The customers are saying they want their banks like other entities to be environmentally conscious, and if you don't, we'll take our business elsewhere."

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