If you run a small business, you can’t choose your customers, but you can choose your bank. And while both are vital for financial success, only a bank can help provide the extra support and services to ensure that your business flourishes.
Once again, BNZ is Canstar’s Bank of the Year Small Business, and this year’s award comes on the back of BNZ also winning Canstar’s:
- Bank of the Year Business Bank Accounts Award
- Outstanding Value Rewards Business Credit Card Award
Bank of the Year Small Business Award
Across the five major banks – ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Kiwibank, Westpac – our expert research team analysed over 30 banking products:
- 10 Business Loans
- 13 Business Credit Cards
- 15 Business Saving & Transactional Accounts
Using Canstar’s unique methodology, our researchers compared the product offerings and banking services available to small business customers in New Zealand, as well as consumer satisfaction.
The three categories each bank was assessed on for this year’s Bank of the Year Award covered:
- Products: deposit and savings accounts; loans, credit facilities, credit cards and equipment finance; insurance
- Business banking services: international banking and risk management support services; market advice and insights; physical branches
- Customer satisfaction: value for money, communication and dispute resolution
Why BNZ is Canstar’s Bank of the Year Small Business
Reporting on BNZ’s Bank of the Year Award win, our research team noted BNZ’s market-leading Business First Transact account. The account charges customers zero monthly and transaction fees, while providing top business-banking services, such as business insights and educational tools for cash-flow projections and budgeting.
In the lending space, our team also praised BNZ’s two credit cards. The low-rate Business First Lite Visa card offers a purchase and cash advance interest rate of 14.95% p.a, while the bank’s rewards card offers business users a range of benefits:
BNZ Advantage Visa Business rewards credit card
- Spend $78 to earn $1 Cash Reward
- Up to 35 days travel insurance
- Emergency travel assistance
- Protection against unauthorised use
- Ability to add an additional cardholder
- Up to 50 interest-free days
Rates & Fees:
- Purchase interest rate: 18.95% p.a.
- Cash advance interest rate: 18.95% p.a.
- Annual fee: $100 p.a.
In awarding BNZ its Bank of the Year Small Business Award our research team also took into consideration BNZ’s strong position in customer satisfaction across all categories, including Customer Service and Value for Money.
For more on BNZ's Small Business wins, click here!
About the author of this page
Bruce Pitchers is Canstar NZ’s Content Manager. An experienced finance reporter, he has three decades’ experience as a journalist and has worked for major media companies in Australia, the UK and NZ, including ACP, Are Media, Bauer Media Group, Fairfax, Pacific Magazines, News Corp and TVNZ. As a freelancer, he has worked for The Australian Financial Review, the NZ Financial Markets Authority and major banks and investment companies on both sides of the Tasman.
In his role at Canstar, he has been a regular commentator in the NZ media, including on the Driven, Stuff and One Roof websites, the NZ Herald, Radio NZ, and Newstalk ZB.
Away from Canstar, Bruce creates puzzles for magazines and newspapers, including Woman’s Day and New Idea. He is also the co-author of the murder-mystery book 5 Minute Murder.
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