Open an account

Opening a business account with Kiwibank is easy. Join online if you're a New Zealand registered limited company, or get in touch with our business banking team for expert support and guidance.

Making joining simple

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    Join online or get in touch

    If you're a New Zealand registered limited company, joining online is easy, secure and usually takes around 20 minutes. After you submit the form, we’ll call you to learn more about your business, and confirm the account purpose. To avoid losing progress, complete and submit the form in one go as your information won’t be saved if you leave before finishing.

    If you're not a New Zealand registered limited company, or you'd prefer to speak to a specialist, you can join by getting in touch with us:

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    Rua

    Gather your details

    Before you speak with us, make sure you have the right information ready. These details help us meet legal and tax requirements and speed up your application. You'll need:

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    Prepare additional documentation

    Some business types, trusts, or sectors require extra documents. We’ll review these documents to ensure compliance with our Responsible Business Banking policy.

    • Check the details further down this page or in the Responsible Business Banking policy.
    • If you’re unsure what’s required, contact our business banking team for clarification.
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    Identify people to verify

    Once we’ve reviewed your documents, we’ll need to verify the identity of key people in your business. After verification, your account will be activated. We need to verify:

    • All controlling people.
    • Major shareholders.
    • Anyone with more than 25% ownership (including directors, shareholders, partners, trustees, appointers, associated entities, and office holders).
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    Complete identity verification

    Choose one of these options:

    • Smartphone ID checker: We’ll send a secure link to your NZ mobile number.
    • In branch: Visit your nearest Kiwibank with your ID.

    In some cases we'll need to verify your address.

Additional information needed for the following

Sole trader

Trading name

Let us know your trading name.

If your trading name is also a registered entity in New Zealand or another entity trades under the same name, we'll be unable to use the name in our system. However, you can provide an alternative trading name.

Limited company

Additional information and documentation required

  • Your company must be registered on the relevant New Zealand companies office register with the full names of all current directors and shareholders.
  • Confirmation of any nominee directors or shareholders.
  • In some cases we may need to confirm the company's source of wealth and/or funds.
  • Confirmation of whether your company has a Constitution or Shareholders Agreement.

Shareholding entities

If you have a shareholder that holds under 25% you'll only need to provide the name of the entity. However, if they hold over 25% shares the following will be required:

  • If they are held by a trust, we require a copy of the signed original trust deed and any amendments or variations of the trust deed. All trustees and individuals with effective control will be required to verify their identity.
  • If they are held by a company, the company must be registered on the New Zealand companies office and up to date with the full names of current directors and shareholders.
  • If they are held by another entity or individual, you'll need to chat with our business banking team.

Options for verifying your identity

Trust

Additional information and documentation required

  • The original trust deed and any amendments or variations of the trust deed.
  • All trustees and individuals with effective control will be required to verify their identity and proof of address.
  • Documentation to verify the source of wealth and/or funds for the trust.

Professional trustee company

  • If your trust has a professional trustee company associated, at least one of the directors or one representative from the company will need to be verified.
  • The relevant New Zealand companies register is up to date with full legal names of all shareholders and directors.

Verify your identity

Charitable trust

Additional information and documentation required

Limited partnership

Additional information and documentation required

  • Limited partnership agreement dated and signed by all partners.
  • The relevant New Zealand companies office registers are up to date with full legal names of all shareholders and directors and the limited partnership details.
  • Confirmation of any nominee directors, shareholders or general partners.
  • In some cases we may need to confirm the partnerships source of wealth and/or source of funds.

Shareholding entities or individuals

If an entity is a partner with more than 25% we'll require the below, dependant on the entity type.

  • If they're held by a trust, we require a copy of the signed original trust deed and any amendments and variations of the trust deed. In addition to this all trustees or individuals with effective control will be required to verify their identity.
  • If they're held by a company, this company must be on the New Zealand Companies Office register and up to date with current directors and shareholders.
  • If held within another entity or individual, you'll need to chat to our business banking team.

Options for verifying your identity

Informal or formal partnerships

Additional information and documentation required

  • Formal - signed and dated partnership agreement.
  • Informal - completed Kiwibank partners’ certificate.
Incorporated society

Additional information and documentation required

Personal verification

The chairperson, treasurer, secretary and any other individuals who can control or manage your society (including officers listed on the incorporated societies and/or charities services registers) need to verify their identity.

Society officers' certificate

The society officers' certificate (SOC) needs to be signed by your chairperson, treasurer, secretary and any other individuals who can control or manage your society. This includes officers listed on the incorporated societies and/or charities services register and any individuals who have account access.

If you have more than 10 office holders you'll need to complete two forms.

Options for verifying your identity

Unincorporated society

Additional information and documentation required

  • Completed Kiwibank society officers' certificate.

Personal verification

The chairperson, treasurer, secretary and any other individuals who can control or manage your society (including officers listed on the incorporated societies and/or charities services registers) need to verify their identity.

Society officers' certificate

The society officers' certificate (SOC) needs to be signed by your chairperson, treasurer, secretary and any other individuals who can control or manage your society. This includes officers listed on the charities services register (if applicable) and any individuals who have account access.

If you have more than 10 office holders you'll need to complete two forms.

Options for verifying your identity

Canstar Bank of The Year - Business Bank Accounts 2022-2024

We've been awarded Canstar's 2024 Bank of the Year – Business Bank Accounts Award, for the third year in a row.

Once you're up & running

  • Get started with internet banking

    We've got answers to common questions to help you get set up with internet banking for business. Once you've registered with internet banking you can download our mobile app.

  • Start sorting your payments

    • Set up payroll and other regular payments.
    • Add multiple users with different permissions, access levels and authorisations.
    • Set approval processes and authorisations – decide who can do what and when.
    • Integrate your accounts with your accounting software. You can see step by step instructions for this process here.

  • Adding additional people to your accounts

    To add someone else to your selected business accounts, they'll be required to verify their identity. They won't need to have other Kiwibank accounts before being added to your business account/s.

Open a business account

Join online if you're a New Zealand registered limited company, or get in touch to speak with our business banking team.

Open an account

Opening a business account is quick and secure — you can start the process online in under 20 minutes if you're a New Zealand registered limited company.

Open an account

Find a business banking specialist

Find a business banking specialist in your area. Request a call back, or call them directly.

Find a business banker

Call us

Call our business banking team on 0800 601 601, or +64 4 803 1646 if you’re calling from overseas.
Mon – Fri: 8am – 5pm.

Call 0800 601 601

Kiwibank’s account opening criteria, terms and conditions, and fees apply.