Instructions on how to easily set up a bank account for your working holiday in New Zealand!
As already mentioned in my blogpost about organising a Work & Travel in New Zealand, it is not sooo easy to open a bank account anymore.
I arrived in Auckland on a Saturday and went straight to the banks on Monday morning. No matter which bank and branch I went to, I was told everywhere that it would not be possible to open a bank account right away, I could either make an appointment that would take at least three weeks or try my luck outside the city. Good.
Since it was too stupid for me to make an extra appointment and have to wait such a long time for it, I went to Takapuna because I wanted to go to the beach anyway. I arrived at a Kiwibank branch and after about 10 minutes waiting I opened a free bank account with a consultant. That's why it's best to look for a branch just outside the city centre, there is usually less going on and you can open your account immediately.
The best known and most widespread banks are ASB, ANZ, Kiwibank, Westpac and BNZ. It's best to check the respective websites for account fees, etc. before you go.
The Kiwibank is kind of the same as the Postbank in Germany and almost every Post Office in New Zealand has a bank in it. Generally the ATM's of the Kiwibank are wildly spread and you should have no problems to find an ATM.
You will need the following documents to set up your bank account:
Your passport
Your visa
Your Tax ID of your home country
Proof of your New Zealand address (here a confirmation from your hostel that you currently "live" there is sufficient; simply ask at reception)
My consultant did all the formal things with me for the bank account and internet banking, so that I could immediately take my bank card with me. At Kiwibank you can even get a credit card if you want. Afterwards she gave me a confirmation for the application for the IRD number and compiled all further documents for it. Altogether it took about 20 minutes.
As you can see, opening a bank account is actually quite simple, you just need to know where you can go and what documents you need. The best way is to find a branch of your chosen bank just outside the city centre.
Read More: How To Apply For Your IRD Number
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xx
Nina