Personal overdrafts

A personal overdraft is linked to your transaction account and can help if you need extra money for a short time.

Permanent overdrafts are no longer available

From 18 August 2026, you won’t be able to apply for a new permanent personal overdraft. Consider whether a credit card or personal loan may be right for your borrowing needs.

If you already have a permanent overdraft, nothing’s changing. Your facility will remain available to you.

Types of overdrafts

Interest, fees and lending criteria apply to overdrafts. These vary depending on whether the overdraft is arranged or unarranged.

Arranged overdraft

Temporary arranged overdrafts can be requested for a transaction account in some situations where short term borrowing is required.^

Existing customers with arranged overdrafts (permanent or temporary) can manage their accounts in the BNZ app or Internet Banking.^

Unarranged overdraft

Some payments may take your transaction or savings account below $0 if you don’t have enough money to cover them. If this happens and you don’t have an arranged overdraft, you’ll go into an unarranged overdraft. Interest and fees apply.^

Interest rates and fees

These rates are variable and can change at any time, including after you enter into your contract. BNZ will publicly announce any changes to variable interest rates.

Service fees (including a paper statement fee of $1.50 per envelope) may be charged in addition to the fees listed above.^

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible to apply for an arranged overdraft, you need to:

  • be 18 years or older with a regular income
  • have your main source of income direct credited to your BNZ transactional account
  • be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, or have been living and working in New Zealand for at least two years.

Our lending criteria, terms, and fees apply.

Personal overdraft help and support

If you have questions or need help, call us on 0800 275 269 or visit your nearest BNZ branch.

Our lending criteria, terms, and fees (including Overdraft Establishment Fee and Unarranged Overdraft Fee as applicable) apply.

Account opening and lending criteria, terms and fees apply. Service fees may apply. BNZ standard terms and conditions apply to all BNZ transaction and savings accounts. Details of our fees can be found in our Fees Guide (PDF 136KB). Rates and fees are subject to change.

Was this page helpful?