Banking in New Zealand for working holidaymakers

The short version

ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Westpac and Kiwibank all let working holidaymakers open an account. ASB and BNZ are the easiest to set up entirely from overseas; ANZ, Westpac and Kiwibank let you start online but verify your identity once you arrive. Whichever you pick, you'll confirm your ID with your passport before the account is fully usable. A multi-currency account such as Wise can receive your pay in the meantime.

Open before or after you arrive?

New Zealand's banks are used to migrants and working holidaymakers, so all five run a "moving to New Zealand" process. The practical split:

• Start fully from overseas (verify online): ASB and BNZ both let you apply online before you arrive and complete identity checks remotely, so you can have account details and internet banking ready before you land.
• Start online, finish on arrival: ANZ and Westpac let you begin the application from overseas, then verify your identity in a branch (or in-app) once you're in the country.
• Mostly after arrival: Kiwibank, the New Zealand-owned bank, is the most arrival-focused of the five, though its migrant application form lets you begin with time to arrive and activate in person.

There's no single best choice. If having a live account before you land matters most, start with ASB or BNZ. All five are full-service banks with strong mobile apps, large ATM networks, and contactless payment everywhere.

What each bank offers new arrivals

All five offer a standard everyday transaction account with a debit card (usually an Eftpos or Visa/Mastercard debit). Day-to-day banking in New Zealand is overwhelmingly contactless and app-based, so you'll rarely handle cash. Account-keeping fees on everyday accounts are typically low or nil, but they vary by account type and change, so check the current fee on the bank's own page rather than assuming. The differences between the big banks for a working holidaymaker are small; the meaningful decision is how early you want the account live, which is the overseas-versus-arrival split above.

Documents you'll need

To apply from overseas, expect to provide:

• Your current passport
• Your visa details (your working holiday visa approval)
• Proof of your overseas residential address, such as a recent utility bill or bank statement showing your name and address (no PO boxes)

To complete identity verification, you'll either upload documents and complete an online check (ASB, BNZ) or show your original passport in a branch after arrival (ANZ, Westpac, Kiwibank).

Once verified you'll get full app access and your debit card. Note your account number; it's the 15- or 16-digit number every New Zealand employer asks for to pay you. You'll usually also have the account ready before you apply for an IRD number, which the IRD can pay refunds into (see our tax guide).

Fees to watch

• Account-keeping fees. Often low or waived on everyday accounts, but confirm the current figure on the bank's site for the specific account you open.
• Other banks' ATMs. Withdrawals from your own bank's ATMs are free. Using another bank's machine may attract a fee, shown before you confirm. Cash is rarely needed; contactless is universal.
• Foreign transaction fees. Standard debit cards add a percentage when you spend in a foreign currency, relevant if you keep using the card while travelling outside New Zealand.
• International transfer margins. Moving money in or out of NZD through a bank usually carries an exchange-rate margin on top of any fee. This is where the real cost hides; compare the NZD amount that actually arrives.

Getting paid before your account is ready

There's often a short gap between landing, finding work, and your account being fully live. Two ways to bridge it.

A multi-currency account. Wise gives you New Zealand account details that can receive a salary like any local account, and you can set it up from home before you fly. It converts at the mid-market rate with a transparent fee, so it also handles bringing your savings over and sending money home later. Revolut offers a similar app-based multi-currency account. Most travellers still open a local bank account too, since some employers and landlords prefer a traditional New Zealand bank.

Time your account opening. Apply with ASB or BNZ from overseas and complete verification before you land, and your account can be ready for your first payslip.

Sending money home

When you leave, or whenever you want to shift savings back to your home currency, the same maths applies: a bank's exchange-rate margin usually costs more than a specialist's fee. Wise and OFX are established options for NZD transfers. Compare the destination amount on the day.

Sources: asb.co.nz · bnz.co.nz · anz.co.nz · westpac.co.nz · kiwibank.co.nz. Last verified 2026-06-11.