People and communities

We’re committed to manaakitanga, or caring for people and communities. We’re focused on financial and digital inclusion, and getting more New Zealanders into warm, dry, resilient homes.

Growing financial wellbeing

Since 2014, we’ve been partnering to help people take control of their financial futures. We’re also working to protect them from unfair, high-cost loans.

We deliver lending and advances through three key partnerships:

Good Loans

Together with Good Shepherd NZ, and with support from the Ministry of Social Development, we help families living on limited incomes with no interest loans, with no fees. Good Loans are provided on a not-for-profit basis for essential goods and services, like a car to get to work.

PaySauce logo

PayNow

We’ve partnered with employment solutions provider, PaySauce, who has developed an innovative solution, PayNow, for the times when payday can’t come soon enough. This allows workers to access their own money in advance rather than turn to predatory lenders.   

Money Sweetspot

We’ve partnered with Money Sweetspot, a finance company supported by charities, to help New Zealanders manage their finances. They help customers combine and reduce debt, using interest rates that may be lower than what they’re currently paying, and earning points by paying on time.

Banking support for people experiencing economic harm

We’re committed to playing our part to support people who are experiencing economic harm. Our specialist team works closely with customers who may be impacted by situations such as problem gambling, elder abuse, or living with domestic violence. We work alongside local and international subject matter experts, academics, and support organisations.

Enabling warm, dry, and resilient homes

Home repair programme

Together with Habitat for Humanity, we’re improving homes for New Zealanders. The programme supports households on modest incomes with essential repairs. This helps to keep their homes secure, healthy, and warm.

Home loan top-ups

We offer low-interest top-ups for sustainable upgrades to your home, or for electronic transport options. 

Shared ownership programmes

Some first home buyers find it hard to save for a deposit on a home that meets their needs. We’ve partnered up with organisations that help these buyers through shared ownership.

Helping New Zealanders be safer and more confident online

Scam Savvy

With specially designed interactive digital tools, we’re helping New Zealanders to feel safer online through increasing awareness of scams – how to spot them and what to do if you’ve been scammed.

Boosting digital inclusion

We’re committed to lifting the digital skills of our customers, colleagues and communities so that more New Zealanders can fully participate in our economy, improving productivity and boosting our economy.

We’re a founding member of the Digital Boost Alliance, a collaboration between business and government.

Other ways we’re helping our communities

Volunteering

We love to get out into the community and help make a real difference. BNZ staff have two volunteer days to use each year.

Sponsorships

We want to grow the social, cultural, and financial wellbeing of New Zealanders. That’s why our partnerships and initiatives give back to communities.

Banking reviews

A banking review helps make sure our customers’ banking is working for them, based on what’s important to them now and in the future.

How can we help?

If you have an idea for how BNZ could do more, or would like to hear more about our work with the community, please email us sustainability@bnz.co.nz.

Small Print

Good Loans are no interest loans. They are provided by Good Shepherd and other community organisations. BNZ helps to fund these loans but is not the lender.

StepUP loans are low interest loans that are no longer offered. They were a product of the Good Loans programme until 30 September 2022.  The following terms and lending criteria apply to existing StepUP loans, where BNZ is the lender:

  1. BNZ lending criteria and terms apply.