Kiwibank Limited is a New Zealandstate-owned bank and financial services provider. As of 2023, Kiwibank is the fifth-largest bank in New Zealand by assets, and the largest New Zealand-owned bank, with a market share of approximately 9%.[4] In December 2023, the bank's assets totaled about $35 billion.[5]
Kiwibank was established in 2001 by the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand, following a proposal by then Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton, to set up a locally-owned bank capable of competing with the Big Four Australian banks which dominated the domestic market. Initially, it operated as a subsidiary of New Zealand Post, with branches originally co-located within PostShops (post offices) to ensure nationwide accessibility.[6]
History
A PostShop in Wellesley Street, Auckland, New Zealand, also serves as a branch of Kiwibank.
Earlier state-owned banks
Kiwibank is similar in some respects to an earlier post office-based bank owned by the New Zealand Government. The New Zealand Post Office Bank was established in 1867. In 1987, the bank was corporatised and separated from New Zealand Post and Telecom New Zealand to form a stand-alone company – PostBank. Then in 1989 PostBank was sold by the government to ANZ.[7]
Establishment period (2002–2010)
Jim Anderton revealed in his valedictory speech that after the issue had previously been discussed by cabinet for months, he had spent three hours trying to convince then Finance Minister Michael Cullen, Annette King told Cullen: "Michael, Jim's beaten back every argument against the bank we've ever put up. For God's sake, give him the bloody bank." Cullen replied: "Oh, all right then."[8][9]
In 2008, one analysis suggested that Kiwibank had contributed to increased competition in the New Zealand banking sector through lower fees.[10] Additionally, by 2007, Kiwibank had achieved higher customer satisfaction ratings compared to the four major Australian-owned banks operating in New Zealand.[11]
In 2008 Kiwibank unveiled an advertising campaign, "Join The Movement", which portrayed foreign-owned competitors as enemy occupiers. The New Zealand Herald called the campaign "jingoistic".[12]
Kiwibank announced an after tax profit of $21.2 million for the year ended 30 June 2011.[13]
In 2012, Kiwibank celebrated its ten-year birthday. The advertising campaign used 10-year-old Kiwis pledging what they're standing up for with New Zealand musician Neil Finn agreeing to the use of his song "Can you hear us?" re-recorded by Jeremy Redmore of Midnight Youth. It was the first time the artist had allowed one of his tracks to be used by a commercial entity. The proceeds from the first 20,000 downloads of the soundtrack went to the NZ Music Foundation of which Finn is patron.[14]
In 2012, the bank also released an iPhone mobile banking app, following the roll out of a redesigned Kiwibank website.[15]Standard & Poor lowered Kiwibank's credit rating one level from AA− to A+ (outlook stable)[16] and Kiwibank reported a record after tax profit of $79.1 million for the year ended 30 June 2012.[13]
In 2014, Kiwibank launched its "Independence" advertising campaign where it "compares itself to anyone who has ever immigrated to New Zealand".[17]
On 22 August 2022, the New Zealand Government purchased Kiwibank's holdings company Kiwi Group Holdings for an estimated NZ$2.1 billion. As a result, the Government acquired full control of the state-owned bank from the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, ACC, and New Zealand Post.[19] In response to the Government's purchase of Kiwibank, KiwiSaver providers opined that the Government could have offered to partially sell shares to the public. The opposition ACT Party's leader David Seymour called for a partial sale of Kiwibank's shares to pension funds. Similarly, the opposition National Party questioned the Labour Government's ability to run Kiwibank.[20]
In June 2024 the Commerce Commission filed 21 criminal charges against Kiwibank alleging systemic breaches of the Fair Trading Act 1986.
The alleged breaches related to issues causing more than $7 million in overcharges to over 36,000 customers for fees and interest rates in relation to home loans, credit cards and overdrafts, over several years dating back to 2002.[21][22] In mid July 2024, Kiwibank pleaded guilty to charges of "systemic breaches" of the Fair Trading Act 1986.[23]
Core business activities
A Kiwibank Branch in Newmarket
Kiwibank's core business consists of personal banking, business banking, KiwiSaver and other wealth services.
Kiwibank Personal Banking
Personal banking products and services include home loans, personal loans, credit cards, everyday accounts, savings accounts, investment services and insurance products.[24]
Kiwibank Business Banking
Business Banking products and services include business lending, cheque accounts, credit cards, investments, merchant services, payment services and insurance.[25]
Investments
Kiwibank invested NZ$8m into a 51% shareholding in New Zealand Home Loans,[26] a home loan lender specialising in debt reduction, in June 2006, and increased this in 2008 by a further 25% and took 100% in 2012. New Zealand Home Loans continues to grow offering an alternative to the traditional banking model and have a nationwide network of over 75 franchises.[27]
In 2012, Kiwi Group Holdings (the parent company of Kiwibank) purchased Gareth Morgan Investments (GMI) for an undisclosed sum.[28] In August 2013 GMI reached a milestone of $2 billion funds under management.
In 2015, Gareth Morgan Investments (GMI) was re-branded to Kiwi Wealth, offering global investment management and private portfolio services to retail high-net-worth, pension funds and institutional clients.
Kiwibank has won the Sunday Star Times/Cannex banking awards, in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012 for offering the best value across their range of products.[29] It has also won New Zealand's Most Trusted Bank at the Reader's Digest Trusted Brand Awards from 2006 to 2017.[30][31]
New Zealand's first FinTech Accelerator was set up in 2016 with Kiwibank sponsorship.[34] The 2018 Kiwibank FinTech Accelerator three month business growth programme resulted in seven start ups and was also supported by Xero, MasterCard and Microsoft. The businesses were: AccountingPod, Tapi (formally FlatFish), Liberac, Sharesies, Teddy, Wicket and a Xero team.[35] In July 2019 the Kiwibank FinTech Accelerator intake included BankEngine, Cove Insurance, and Miuwi.[36]
A partnership with the children's financial literacy provider Banqer was formally launched in May 2016, setting the one-year goal at 1000 classrooms being sponsored into the programme. This was achieved by April 2017 but the programme continues to grow.[38]
In 2016 Kiwibank announced a partnership with the Predator Free New Zealand Trust and the Department of Conservation (DOC).[39] Kiwibank worked with PFNZ to establish the Kiwibank Predator Free Communities Programme which works with communities wanting to take up the predator-free challenge.[citation needed]
^Watkins, Tracy (5 October 2011). "Bowing out with a final victorious quip". The Press. p. A9.
^Milner, Andrea (11 May 2008). "Experts question the high cost of banking". APN Holdings NZ. Retrieved 14 March 2014. The good news, says Godfrey Boyce, of KPMG Financial Services, is that in the past year major banks have adopted low-fee transaction accounts and low-interest rate credit cards to lure customers from competitors. [...] In part, he says this is a reaction to the fact previous banking "minnows", such as Kiwibank, TSB Bank and Rabobank, are now strong enough to be noticed by the major banks.
^Daniels, Chris (8 April 2007). "Bank on satisfaction". New Zealand Herald. APN Holdings NZ. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
^Stock, Rob (21 February 2008). "Kiwibank posts a good result". Sunday Star-Times. Fairfax New Zealand. Archived from the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
