Business Banking Awards

ASB retains its Business Transaction Account Award for the fourth year in a row due to the sustained performance of its Business Account.

The account charges no monthly base fee and no fees for everyday self-service or staff-assisted transactions, meaning businesses can conduct their day-to-day electronic and in-person banking activity at no cost.

BNZ wins a Business Savings Account Award due to the performance of its Business First OnCall account.

The account stands out for offering a competitive interest rate with no deposit or withdrawal conditions, meaning holders can earn interest across their full balance while retaining complete flexibility to access and transfer funds on call. Unlike alternatives that can cap free withdrawals, BNZ's Business First OnCall account applies no per-withdrawal fees, allowing businesses to move money as often as they need without eating into their returns.

The savings account must be held jointly with a BNZ business transaction account.

BNZ holds onto its Business Transaction Account Award for the second consecutive year thanks to its Business First Transact account.

The account charges no monthly account fees and no fees for common self-service and staff-assisted transactions, allowing small businesses to run their day-to-day banking and manage cash flow without per-transaction costs eating into their earnings. 

Awarding BNZ its top accolade, Canstar's research team noted that BNZ's Business First OnCall account was the only product assessed that had increased its base interest rate year-on-year in the declining Official Cash Rate environment.

This made BNZ the most competitive in the saver profile of our research, particularly because most other banks had almost halved the interest rates on their business savings accounts over the same period of time.

Our researchers also highlighted that BNZ recorded strong levels of satisfaction from its business customers across key areas, including: customer service, problem resolution and value for money.

Heartland Bank retains its Business Savings Account Award for the fifth consecutive year thanks to the ongoing performance of its Business Call account. The account stands out for its competitive base interest rate and lack of deposit or withdrawal conditions.

Additionally, there are no account fees and no limit on the number of withdrawals to a nominated account, meaning Business Call pairs a strong return with complete day-to-day accessibility.

The account is standalone, meaning it can be linked to a business transaction account at any institution.

Kiwibank retains its Business Savings Account Award for the fourth year in a row, due to the strength of its Business Online Call account.

The account offers a high interest rate with no minimum balance requirements and no withdrawal fees or restrictions.

Kiwibank's Business Online Call can be linked to any account, meaning it's an attractive choice for a business that wants strong returns on its funds, while retaining an existing transaction account set-up.

ANZ, Canstar's latest Bank of the Year Business Credit Cards Award winner, placed ahead of the competition in this year's award ratings on the strength of its two rewards cards.

Our researches noted that ANZ now leads the field in Airpoints rewards: while some other providers reduced their rewards offer, ANZ held its earn steady at 1 Airpoints Dollar per $85, and because Airpoints Dollars are NZD-denominated, the card's return can't be eroded by redemption repricing.

ANZ Visa Business Airpoints card

• 1 Airpoints Dollar per $85 of eligible spend, or 1 Airpoints Dollar per $50 of spend directly with Air New Zealand (up to $25,000)
• Business Owners earn 50% bonus Status Points on top of the Status Points earned on qualifying Air New Zealand flights
• No Koru club joining fee (saving of $255), plus a discount of $145 off the standard 12-month individual Koru membership fee for all principals of a business
• Airpoints Dollars do not expire during card membership
• Insurance protection against unauthorised use
• Added layer of protection offered through dynamic security code
• Up to 44 interest-free days

Rates & fees

• Purchase interest rate: 20.95% p.a.
• Cash advance interest rate: 20.95% p.a.
• Annual fee: $145 p.a.
• Joint/additional card: $5 p.a.

ANZ Visa Business CashBack card

• Cashback of $1 for every $90 spent during 12-month period
• Added layer of protection offered through dynamic security code
• Set individual spending limits on up to 15 cards
• Direct reporting through ANZ Internet Banking or ANZ Direct Online
• Insurance protection against unauthorised use
• Up to 55 interest-free days

Rates & fees

• Purchase interest rate: 20.95% p.a.
• Cash advance interest rate: 20.95% p.a.
• Annual fee: $95 p.a.
• Joint/additional card: $5 p.a.

When awarding ANZ our top Business Credit Cards accolade for the seventh year in a row, our expert research team once again commented on the strong performance of ANZ's cards across our two award profiles: low-rate and rewards credit cards.

ANZ's winning margin widened this year on the strength of its rewards result. Plus ANZ ranked first of the seven providers assessed on every customer-facing measure of the award, from satisfaction and service through to fees, digital banking and value for money.

ANZ is also the only provider issuing eligible cards across all three of our product profiles:

• Low rate
• Cashback
• Airpoints card (rewards & frequent flyer)

ANZ earns an Outstanding Value Low Rate Business Credit Card Award thanks to its Visa Business Low Rate Credit Card:

ANZ Visa Business Low Rate card

• Lower interest rate and annual fee
• Insurance protection against unauthorised use
• Added layer of protection offered through dynamic security code
• Set individual spending limits on up to 15 cards
• Direct reporting through ANZ Internet Banking or ANZ Direct Online
• Up to 55 interest-free days

Rates & fees

• Purchase interest rate: 13.90% p.a.
• Cash advance interest rate: 20.95% p.a.
• Annual fee: $35 p.a.
• Joint/additional card: $5 p.a.

Kiwibank earns a third consecutive Outstanding Value Low Rate Business Credit Cards Award this year due to the consistently strong performance of its Business Low Rate Visa credit card:

Kiwibank Business Low Rate Visa

Set individual spend limits for cardholders

• Integrate reporting into MYOB or Xero
• Protection against unauthorised use
• Up to 55 interest-free days

Rates & fees

• Purchase interest rate: 12.50% p.a.
• Cash advance interest rate: 12.50% p.a.
• Annual fee: $25 p.a.

This year TSB wins a back-to-back Outstanding Value Business Credit Card Award for its Business Mastercard, which offers a market-leading interest rate of 11.95% that's paired with the lowest annual fee in the market ($20):

TSB Business Mastercard

• Cardholder-itemised statements up to 12 card users
• Protection against unauthorised use
• Up to 55 interest-free days

Rates & fees

• Purchase interest rate: 11.95% p.a.
• Cash advance interest rate: 22.95% p.a.
• Annual fee: $20 p.a.

This is the third year in a row that Westpac has won an Outstanding Value Rewards Business Credit Card Award due to the strong performance of its Airpoints Business Mastercard, which offers one of the the best Airpoints earn in the market: one Airpoints Dollar per $85 spent:

Westpac Airpoints Business Mastercard

• 1 Airpoints Dollar per $85 of eligible spend
• 1 Status Point for every $225 of eligible spend
• Up to 35 days travel insurance
• Discount on 12-month Koru membership
• 24-hour emergency assistance
• Purchase protection up to 90 days, plus extended warranties
• Up to 44 interest-free days on purchases

Rates & fees

• Purchase interest rate: 20.95% p.a.
• Cash advance interest rate: 22.95%
• Balance transfer rate (for life of the balance): 5.95% p.a.
• Annual fee: $145 p.a.
• Up to five additional cards: $25 p.a.

For our Telecommunications Award, we asked 587 small business owners to rate their satisfaction with their telco providers across the following categories, listed in order of their importance to those in our survey:

• Value for money: 27%
• Customer service: 22%
• Network performance: 19%
• Flexibility of contract/plan: 17%
• Billing: 13%
• Sign-up & activation: 4%

2degrees is the winner of our 2026 Telecommunications Award. 2degrees' customers awarded it the maximum possible score for satisfaction across three of our award categories – flexibility of contract/plan, billing and sign-up & activation – and near perfect scores for value for money, customer service and network performance, setting it above the other eligible brands in our award survey.

Small business owners surveyed: 587 | Brands assessed: 8 | Brands shortlisted: 3

For our Banking Award, we asked 298 small business owners to rate their satisfaction with their banks across the following categories, listed in order of their importance to those in our survey:

• Fees & charges: 39%
• Staff & invoice payments: 33%
• Problem resolution: 22%
• Communication: 5%
• Merchant services: 1%

ANZ is the winner of our 2026 Banking Award for the second year in a row. ANZ's customers awarded it the maximum possible score for satisfaction across three of our award categories – staff & invoice payments, problem resolution and merchant services – and a strong score for communication, setting it above the other eligible brands in our award survey.

Small business owners surveyed: 298 | Brands assessed: 8 | Brands shortlisted: 5

For our Merchant Services Award, we asked 77 small business owners to rate their satisfaction with their merchant services providers across the following categories, listed in order of their importance to those in our survey:

• Speed of service/transaction: 29%
• Fees/charges: 28%
• Online reporting: 16%
• Customer service: 12%
• Reliability: 8%
• Communication: 7%

ANZ is the winner of our 2026 Merchant Services Award for the third year in a row. ANZ's customers awarded it the maximum possible score for satisfaction across all our award categories, setting it above the other eligible brand in our award survey.

Small business owners surveyed: 77 | Brands assessed: 5 | Brands shortlisted: 2

For our Fuel Cards Award, we asked 176 small business owners to rate their satisfaction with their fuel card providers across the following categories, listed in order of their importance to those in our survey:

• Customer service: 38%
• Fees & charges: 23%
• Fuel discounts: 22%
• Account management: 14%
• Number of petrol stations: 3%

BP Plus is the winner of our 2026 Fuel Cards Award. BP Plus's customers awarded it the maximum possible score for satisfaction across four of our award categories – customer service, fees & charges, fuel discounts, account management and number of stations – and a near perfect score for account management, setting it above the other eligible brands in our award survey.

Small business owners surveyed: 176 | Brands assessed: 7 | Brands shortlisted: 3

For our Courier Services Award, we asked 264 small business owners to rate their satisfaction with their courier providers across the following categories, listed in order of their importance to those in our survey:

• Customer service: 26%
• Reliability of service: 20%
• Value for money: 19%
• Tracking services: 15%
• Pick up & drop-off options: 15%
• Delivery timeliness options: 5%

NZ Couriers is the winner of our 2026 Courier Services Award for the fourth year in a row. NZ Couriers' customers awarded it the maximum possible score for satisfaction across four of our award categories – customer service, reliability of service, value for money, and pick up & drop-off options – and near perfect scores for tracking services and delivery timeliness options, setting it above the other eligible brands in our award survey.

Small business owners surveyed: 264 | Brands assessed: 13 | Brands shortlisted: 3

For our Business Insurance Award, we asked 179 small business owners to rate their satisfaction with their insurers across the following categories, listed in order of their importance to those in our survey: 

• Value for money: 42%
• Customer service: 24%
• Comprehensiveness of cover: 18%
• Cost: 10%
• Communication: 6%

Tower is the winner of our 2026 Business Insurance Award. Tower's customers awarded it the maximum possible score for satisfaction across all our award categories, setting it above the other eligible brands in our award survey.

Small business owners surveyed: 179 | Brands assessed: 16 | Brands shortlisted: 4

For our Credit Cards Award, we asked 246 small business owners to rate their satisfaction with their credit card providers across the following categories, listed in order of their importance to those in our survey:

• Privacy & security: 28%
• Value for money: 27%
• Customer service: 15%
• Communication: 15%
• Rewards program: 9%
• Fees & charges: 3%
• Digital banking: 2%
• Interest rate: 1%

Westpac is the winner of our 2026 Credit Cards Award. Westpac's customers awarded it the maximum possible score for satisfaction across all our award categories, setting it above the other eligible brands in our award survey.

Small business owners surveyed: 246 | Brands assessed: 10 | Brands shortlisted: 4

For our Accounting Software Award, we asked 234 small business owners to rate their satisfaction with their accounting software providers across the following categories, listed in order of their importance to those in our survey:

• Ease of integration: 24%
• Reporting: 23%
• Ease of use: 21%
• Functionality: 17%
• Value for money: 13%
• Customer service: 2%

Xero is the winner of our 2026 Accounting Software Award for the eighth consecutive year. Xero's customers awarded it the maximum possible score for satisfaction across all our award categories, setting it above the other eligible brand in our award survey.

Small business owners surveyed: 234 | Brands assessed: 9 | Brands shortlisted: 2