Tips to reduce bank fees

Link regular payments to pay day

Set up your automatic payments or direct debits to come out the day after you get paid, that way you’ll know there’s always enough money in your account to cover them.

If you don’t have the funds to meet an automatic payment or direct debit you’ll be hit with a dishonour fee. If you have an automatic payment that fails three payment cycles in a row, we’ll cancel it, so you don’t keep incurring dishonour fees.

You can see a list of your automatic payments and when they’re due to go out in internet banking or our mobile app. With direct debits we can’t tell you when payments are due, as the organisation you’re paying controls that.

You could also set up PayStream to help you budget your money by setting aside a certain amount of money or a percentage of incoming payments to a separate account. PayStream is free to set up in the first 30 days after you open your Kiwibank account – after that there’s a $3 set up or change fee.

Set up Sweep

Sweep automatically moves money between accounts when they reach set minimum or maximum amounts.

Sweep can ensure your automatic payments won’t dishonour when you have enough money sitting in another chosen account.

Stay alert

Set up text or email alerts so we can let you know if there isn’t enough money in your account to cover a regular automatic payment. This alert gives you a chance to transfer some money before we try the payment again.

Alerts are available on all accounts except credit cards, personal loans or KiwiSaver.

Avoid unauthorised overdrafts

Fees may be charged if your account goes into unauthorised overdraft.

If you find yourself occasionally slipping into the red, applying for an authorised overdraft could be a good way to manage this. Lending criteria, terms and conditions, interest rates, and fees apply.

Go digital

Use internet or mobile banking, rather than going into a branch or using telephone banking.

You get five free calls to phone banking each month, but after that it costs $5 per call to a customer service representative, or $0.50 per call to the automated phone banking system.

A Free Up account has no monthly account or electronic transaction fees (service fees may apply).

If you've not used internet or mobile banking before, take a look at our Support Hub for pointers.

Get a Zero Visa

If you want a credit card with no account fee, take a look at our Zero Visa Credit Card.

Pay credit cards on time

Avoid fees by making at least the minimum payments on credit cards on time every month (interest charges still apply).

Even better, if you can afford to, set up a direct debit to pay your balance off completely every month and avoid interest charges as well.

Consider a Visa Debit Card – it’s like a credit card but you’re using the money in your transaction account. Buy things you’d normally use a credit card for – online, overseas, at home, wherever. The $10 annual fee is waived for the first year. The Visa Debit Card is not available on all accounts.

Visit our Managing your card page for more credit card tips..

Choose the right accounts

Make sure you understand what service, transaction and account fees you’re paying on your account. Take a look at our rates and fees page and see if you’ve got the best account for you, or if there’s one that might suit you better.

Our everyday account is designed for money to go into and come out of regularly. They generally have no or low electronic transaction fees and low interest because your money isn't sitting in them for long. Savings accounts, on the other hand, are designed to encourage you to not touch your money as often and often charge fees on withdrawals. If you fall into the habit of using your savings accounts often, you'll find that fees quickly add up.

If you think you're using the wrong account for your needs, talk to us about swapping to something that better suits how you'll be using it.