Help with financial difficulty
If you are experiencing financial stress or difficulties, there are a number of ways we may be able to help.
Financial hardship assistance
If your situation meets our criteria for financial hardship (e.g. job loss, serious illness or a relationship breakdown), you may be eligible for our financial hardship assistance.
If you don’t meet the financial hardship criteria, one or more of the options on this page could help you manage your money.
Restructuring your loan
A loan restructure is when changes are made to your loan repayments – for example, you can reduce your regular payments by:
- Increasing your loan term
- Changing your payments to interest only for a short time.
Restructuring your loan may change how much you need to pay us over the term of the loan, and you might be charged a fee. We will work with you to help you understand the best option for you.
To restructure repayments on a loan, call us:
- Home loan – 0800 269 4663
- Perrsonal loan – 0800 837 123
Consolidating your debts
Consolidating (combining) your ANZ debts, like loans or credit card debts, into one personal loan can simplify your finances and it might save you money in interest payments.
If your loan is in arrears (payments have been missed), whether we can consolidate it or not depends on your specific circumstances. If your ANZ loan is in arrears, call us on 0800 731 200 to discuss your situation.
Make an insurance claim
If you’re in financial difficulty due to an accident or serious illness, you may have insurance you can claim on. For example, you may have taken out life or income insurance when getting a home loan.
If you have life or income insurance through ANZ with our trusted insurance partner Chubb Life, you might be able to make a claim with them.
If you have an insurance policy with another provider, contact them to find out how to claim.
KiwiSaver
Savings suspension
You can apply to Inland Revenue to take a break from making contributions:
- If 12 months or more have passed since your first KiwiSaver contribution was paid, or
- Any time after your first contribution if you are in, or are likely to be in, financial hardship.
A savings suspension can be for between 3 to 12 months, unless Inland Revenue agrees to a longer period. You can take an unlimited number of saving suspensions, but this will affect how quickly the savings in your KiwiSaver account grow.
Early withdrawal
You can apply for a KiwiSaver early withdrawal if you’re suffering significant financial hardship – for example if you’re unable to meet essential living and/or medical costs.
Steps to financial wellbeing
Our financial wellbeing programme can help. Try one step or two, or work through the programme's six steps in any order.
Other support
We’ve put together a list of self-help resources and tools that can help you better understand and manage your financial position.
Budgeting and managing money
- MoneyTalks provide confidential, non-judgemental free budgeting services throughout New Zealand.
- Citizen Advice Bureau offers free information and advice on financial, family, legal and other issues.
- Sorted offers New Zealanders free, impartial information and calculators to help manage their money throughout life.
Government services
- Inland Revenue offer information and options if you’re struggling to file or pay your tax.
- Insolvency and Trustee Service offers assistance when you’re unable to repay your debts, which may involve options such as bankruptcy.
- Work and Income provides support throughout New Zealand with finding work or financial assistance such as benefits for different situations.