New Zealand bank account numbers in NZD follow a standardised format of 16 digits: a prefix representing the bank and branch (six digits), otherwise known as the Bank code; the body (seven digits); and the suffix representing the product/account type (two or three digits).

While the New Zealand format is similar to Australia's Bank State Branch, the two systems are not interchangeable.

New Zealand bank account numbers in foreign currencies vary by bank.

Background The origins of the format lay in the establishment of the Databank Systems Limited, a company set up by a consortium of competing New Zealand banks, to provide computing resources (development and operational) for the consortium members.Databank Systems Limited, Computing a Nation, c1988, 16 page booklet

Bank codes are coordinated by Payments NZ who administer the Bulk Electronic Clearing System (BECS). The scope of BECS includes direct debits, automatic payments, bill payments, and direct credits.Payments NZ website, description of Bulk Electronic Clearing System, accessed 30/05/2013 Payments NZ also administer the following payment systems in New Zealand:Payments NZ website, list of all payment systems, accessed 30/05/2013 Paper Clearing System High Value Clearing System Consumer Electronic Clearing System

Format of account numbers Account numbers are generally presented in the format: BB-bbbb-AAAAAAA-SSS

where B is the bank number (2 digits), b is the branch number (4 digits), A is the account number (7 digits) and S are digits of the suffix (2 or 3 digits). Where a bank displays the suffix as two digits, a leading zero is added to pad the suffix to three digits; i.e. BB-bbbb-AAAAAAA-SS becomes BB-bbbb-AAAAAAA-0SS.

This format allows customers to have a single account number with differing suffixes for multiple accounts of differing types. This does not include credit card and loan products.

Account number prefix Bank accounts are prefixed with six digits, two indicating the bank and four which indicate the branch. The table below shows which banks are allocated which bank prefix. A current list of branches as their associated bank/branch numbers is available for download from the Payments NZ website.

Bank name Bank prefix Branch range ANZ 01, 04, 06 and 11 (see below) 0001–5699 BNZ 02 0001–1299 The Co-operative Bank 02 1242, 1245–1250 (agency arrangement via BNZ) Westpac 03 0001–1999 Heartland 03 Kookmin Bank 02 Agency arrangement via BNZ NZCU 03 Agency arrangement via Westpac Rabobank New Zealand 03 0001–1999China Construction Bank New Zealand058884-8889 National Bank of New Zealand now ANZ 06 0001–1499 National Australia Bank 08 0000–9999Industrial and Commercial Bank of China105165—5169 PostBank 11 5000–8999 ASB 12 3000–3999 Trust Bank Southland 13 4900–4999 Trust Bank Otago 14 4700–4799 TSB 15 3900–3999 Trust Bank Canterbury 16 4400–4499 Trust Bank Waikato 17 3300–3399 Trust Bank Bay of Plenty 18 3500–3599 Trust Bank South Canterbury 19 4600–4649 Trust Bank Auckland 21 4800–4899 Trust Bank Central 20 4100–4199 Trust Bank Wanganui 22 4000–4049 Westland Bank 24 4300–4349 Trust Bank Wellington 23 3700–3799 Countrywide 25 2500–2599 United Bank 29 0000–9999 HSBC 30 2900–2956 Citibank 31 2800–2849 Kiwibank 38 9000–9499 Bank of China 88 8800-8805

Transferwise as of 2024 uses bank prefix 04.

Account number body The account body consists of seven digits, right adjusted and padded with zeroes if necessary. A prefix and account body combination can be validated using a modulus algorithm, but the account body does not include a check digit.

Account number suffix The table below shows the account number suffixes as introduced by Databank Systems Limited from 1969.

Type of account Suffix Cheque Account 00 Number 2 Account 02 Fixed Account 03 Savings Account 30 Credit Card Account 40 Thrift Club Account 50 Term Deposit Account 81

Some banks (such as BNZ) include three digits of the suffix in their presentation of the number to the end customer. Other banks only show the last two digits of the suffix to the end customer. Technically, all banks have three digit suffixes, it's just that the first digit of the suffix is always 0 so it's usually ignored.

See also

References