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Statistical series

Financial inclusion indicators

Our financial inclusion indicators help us understand how well the financial system is serving the diverse needs of our communities.

Published:

At the Reserve Bank of New Zealand - Te Pūtea Matua, we are committed to improving financial inclusion, supporting all New Zealanders to access, use, and benefit from essential financial products and services.

This report introduces our Base Set of financial inclusion indicators, developed to help us understand how well the financial system is serving the diverse needs of our communities. We also published a Technical Paper to support the Base Set indicators. The Technical Paper covers:

  • how we are measuring financial inclusion
  • data included in the Base Set report
  • more details on how we sourced and analysed the data, and
  • the underlying methodology taken to measure financial inclusion across the Base Set of indicators.

Summary and initial findings

Our initial Base Set focuses on access, defined as the ability to obtain financial products and services offered by regulated banks and non-bank deposit takers. This includes access to cash services, deposit accounts, and credit. By leveraging a mix of surveys and administrative data from both internal and external sources, we provide a picture of current access levels across Aotearoa New Zealand.

These indicators are a valuable starting point to track how effectively the financial system is serving New Zealanders over time. While some data gaps remain, particularly in capturing long-term trends, we are committed to regularly updating these indicators. Reporting will allow us to track progress, evaluate the impact of initiatives, and support evidence-based decisions to enhance financial inclusion across New Zealand.

Base Set data highlights

A subset of charts is included on this page in an accessible and interactive format. This data is associated with varying levels of uncertainty depending on the sample size. Please see the Technical Paper for the confidence intervals.

Base Set Indicators Technical Paper (PDF, 1.21MB)

Financial Inclusion Indicators Base Set Report

PDF | 1MB

Financial Inclusion Indicators Technical Paper

PDF | 532KB

Access to cash services

Measuring the ability for New Zealanders to access, use, and bank cash as they need.

Population level data on distance to nearest access point is not available at this time.

78% of adults find it easy to withdraw cash in New Zealand and 45% find it easy to deposit cash. People over 60 years of age and those in rural areas find it most difficult to withdraw and deposit cash.

See related chart and data

Percentage of New Zealanders who find it easy or somewhat easy to withdraw and deposit cash, by rural vs urban area

Cash is a way of making payments for some New Zealanders. Cash provides an option for many New Zealanders to pay their bills, make purchases, give gifts and participate socially. While electronic payments are on the rise, cash continues to play an important role with some segments of the population solely relying on physical cash, particularly vulnerable communities or those who are unbanked.

Access to deposit accounts

Measuring the ability for people to deposit money in financial accounts, and benefit from associated services such as digital transactions, online payments and earning interest.

97% of adults reported having a deposit account. Māori, Pasifika, people with lower incomes, and people under 25 years have lower access to deposit accounts.

See related chart and data

Population level data on the number of closed accounts is not available at this time.

We do not know the total number of customers refused a transaction account. An RBNZ/ThinkPlaceNZ survey found that 58% of participating frontline banking staff were not able to open an account for a customer in the last 6 months.

83% of adults have at least one type of regulated savings account. Access to savings accounts and the ability to earn interest on deposits varies by ethnicity and income.

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Proportion of people with a transaction account by ethnicity

Deposit accounts include everyday transaction accounts, savings accounts, and term deposits. Everyday transaction accounts enable people to conduct their day-to-day banking needs such as receiving an income. Access to transaction accounts can vary by income, age, and ethnicity.

Estimated proportion of adults who have a savings account, by ethnic group

Measuring access to savings accounts helps people benefit from the money they store in the formal financial sector. Extending access to secure savings mechanisms can support financial inclusion, also contributing to peoples’ financial resilience and long-term wellbeing.

Access to credit

Measuring the ability for people to borrow money through fit for purpose lending products.

70% of adults in New Zealand have at least one regulated credit account. Access to credit varies by ethnicity and region.

See related charts and data

Lending to Māori-owned businesses was reported at $3.5 billion among entities participating in the Māori access to capital data pilot, compared to $185 billion in total business lending.

Population level data on this indicator is not available at this time.

90% of Māori-owned businesses are able to access debt on acceptable terms compared to 91% for non-Māori-owned businesses.

See related chart and data

Estimated proportion of adults with a credit account, by ethnic group

Access to credit supports individuals and businesses to invest, grow, and recover from financial shocks. When used responsibly, access to credit can help individuals provide a buffer during a crisis or unexpected expenses such as medical bills or urgent repairs. Like savings, credit contributes to financial resilience by offering short-term liquidity and flexibility during income disruptions. However, responsible lending is essential to ensuring that credit is only extended to individuals who can afford it, thereby avoiding the risk of over-indebtedness. For firms, access to credit can help to pursue new projects, grow their asset base, and invest in emerging technologies, which can increase a company’s productivity, profitability and competitiveness.

Estimated proportion of adults with a credit account, by region - North Island

Access to credit often varies across regions or geographic locations, reflecting disparities in infrastructure, collateral availability, and financial literacy. Analysing credit access by region helps identify areas with limited or unequal access, enabling policymakers and financial institutions to design tailored solutions that address the specific needs of local communities

Estimated proportion of adults with a credit account, by region - South Island

Access to credit often varies across regions or geographic locations, reflecting disparities in infrastructure, collateral availability, and financial literacy. Analysing credit access by region helps identify areas with limited or unequal access, enabling policymakers and financial institutions to design tailored solutions that address the specific needs of local communities.

Percentage of debt requests on acceptable terms for Māori and non-Māori businesses

This data was included in the Māori Access to Capital Snapshot, which focuses on actions that are being taken by banks to reduce unnecessary barriers for Māori businesses to access credit. The Snapshot highlights bank initiatives that can improve Māori access to capital and aims to fill data gaps, helping to consider unmet financing needs for Māori businesses that may not be addressed by existing initiatives.

Related content

Financial inclusion

Find out about the steps we're taking to contribute to financial services and products in New Zealand.

Māori access to capital (MA2K) snapshot

This snapshot is a collection of measures that offer a baseline understanding of MA2K across the banking system in Aotearoa.

Access to bank accounts

This financial inclusion research looks at opportunities to promote inclusive customer onboarding.