How to activate your BNZ account

Meeting with a BNZ banker

Visit a branch

You can activate your account by visiting any BNZ branch (no appointment needed).

Gather documents that are proof of your identity, as you’ll need to take those along to the meeting.

If you’ve opened a joint account, both of you will need to come into the branch and bring along your individual proof of identity. Without these, you won’t be able to activate your account.

Find a branch

Bring your documents along

You need to bring two identification documents with you to the activation meeting so we can verify who you are.

1. Your passport.

2. Proof of your residential address (as provided on your application form), or the address where you’ll be living in New Zealand. The document needs to have been issued in the last 12 months. You can use the original or online version of a:

• statement or confirmation letter from an overseas bank or financial institution showing your overseas residential address
• utility bill from your power, gas, water, landline phone or internet service provider showing your overseas residential address
• rates notice (or overseas equivalent) showing your overseas residential address
• valid passport, national identity card, resident identity card, or current overseas driver license issued by an overseas government agency that contains your residential address.

See more documents you can use

Your account is activated

Your account will be activated by your banker and you’ll receive your BNZ Eftpos card.

If you’re planning on applying for an IRD number, you can speed up the process by making a withdrawal at the activation meeting so that your account becomes active. We can print out a list of transactions, or you can do that yourself from Internet Banking, which you can then supply to Inland Revenue.

You can discuss other account options, products and services.

Other services you might need

Pay for things

• Buying a home
• Credit cards
• Personal loans
• Debit cards

Cover the essentials

• Car insurance
• House insurance
• Contents insurance

Build your savings and wealth

• Private Bank
• Foreign currency accounts
• Term deposits
• Saving for retirement

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