A-Z Review

1. Finding out what’s important to you
We start your A-Z Review with a conversation about your background and current financial situation.  We will then discuss your plans for the future, including what is important to you and any financial goals you already have.  You may want to be more organised with your finances, explore better ways of managing debt or have a specific goal in mind.

Either way, by knowing your personal situation, we can help identify the changes that could be made to your current banking arrangement which may help you achieve financial stability, or your goals, sooner.

2. Reviewing how you bank
Habits are hard to change, but a few alterations to the way you organise your money could make a real difference. By helping with your banking, we could make it easier to manage any debt you have with expenses that pop-up unexpectedly, as well as saving for your dream holiday. We may even be able to help you avoid some of the fees you currently pay.
 

3. Identifying options to suit you
Once we understand your lifestyle, aspirations and future plans we’ll work with you to get your banking organised, helping you make the most of your finances.

To find out how an A-Z Review has helped other people, have a look at these examples based on real life events.

Getting on top of debt - and building a brighter future

Bringing up a family can be challenging – even more so when money is tight and you have a big debt burden. Looking for help to get ahead, John and Elizabeth met with ANZ Senior Personal Banker Rachel. While the family had a reasonable income, they also had a lot of high-interest debt (such as credit cards) which they were struggling to repay, and no savings. Rachel took them through an A-Z Review, which identified some opportunities which would make a positive difference to them.

The first step was to help them get rid of their debt. Rachel was able to consolidate all their high-interest debt into a single Debt Consolidation Loan^* with a lower interest rate, which helped them to repay their debt faster. She also set up savings accounts for family members and helped them put in place a regular savings plan.

The A-Z Review also highlighted that the family had some big financial risks, particularly if anything happened to John (the main income earner). Rachel arranged affordable insurance which gave them peace of mind that the family would be looked after if anything unexpected happened.  

The A-Z Review was the start of the family’s journey to building a secure future. Since their first meeting, they have gained control over their finances and built up their savings over time – and they’re looking to the future with confidence. With Rachel’s help, they have now opened a KiwiSaver^** account to help them buy a home of their own (after three years’ membership) and later, to provide for their retirement.

Running on all cylinders

Sometimes, a new perspective can make all the difference. For Angela and Ian, an A-Z Review not only saved them money but helped to take a weight off their shoulders.

Their Personal Banker Sarah noticed they were making regular withdrawals from their ANZ Serious Saver^ account – so they were incurring fees and not earning as much interest as they could have been. Sarah contacted Angela and Ian and they came in for an A-Z Review. After talking with them about their banking needs, she set them up with an ANZ Online Call account^ so they could access their money online when they needed to without incurring transaction fees, and still earn a good rate of interest.

The A-Z Review also revealed that Angela and Ian were worried about their car, which was always breaking down, and were thinking about taking out a personal loan to replace it. However as they had an ANZ home loan^##, Sarah suggested they top it up instead and take advantage of lower home loan interest rates.

Angela and Ian looked at the options provided by Sarah, and decided to get a home loan top up with more affordable repayments. Now they’ve got a reliable new car, and what’s more they’ve also been able to fix their old front fence. Thanks to an A-Z Review, they have a few less things to worry about.

Getting a solid financial foundation in place

Jade and Corey knew they wanted to own their own home and provide a financially secure future for their kids – but weren’t sure how to make it happen. Struggling to save for a deposit, they just didn’t seem to be getting ahead.

They came into an ANZ branch to ask about savings accounts, and ANZ Senior Personal Banker John booked them in for an A-Z Review, to understand more about their situation.

One of the biggest barriers to saving for Jade and Corey was their existing high-interest debt. John was able to refinance this at a lower interest rate which made it easier to repay. He also set them up with an ANZ Serious Saver account which offers them good incentives to stick to their savings goal, such as a bonus interest rate and a chance to win a share of $100,000 every month^#.  The couple also opened KiwiSaver^** accounts to save for the future, and which could also help them buy their first home after three years’ membership.

The review also showed that Jade and Corey hadn’t reviewed their life insurance cover since the birth of their children, and had no contents insurance at all. This meant that the family’s financial situation was very vulnerable if an unexpected event happened. John arranged an affordable level of insurance cover to give them peace of mind, whatever happens.

With the help of an A-Z Review and the options provided by John, Jade and Corey are now looking to the future with a newfound confidence and direction, and are on their way to owning their own home.  

What are the benefits to me?
By spending a short amount of time talking to one of our Personal Bankers, through an A-Z Review, you’ll be able to consider your current banking and future goals.  This one-on-one conversation will help you identify options that may suit you better in order to help you achieve your goals.

Do I need to go into a branch to do this?
Yes, A-Z Reviews are completed in our branches. This is a personalised service and is available at any of our branches across New Zealand. To book an appointment, you can either:

Call 0800 269 296

Locate your nearest ANZ branch

What sort of things will we discuss?
We’ll discuss your work, family, lifestyle and goals, as well as products you have with us and other financial institutions. This will help us understand you better and look at options that match your lifestyle.

How long does it take?
The review is straightforward, and should help you with the information you need to make your next financial decisions. As every situation is different, the length of your conversation will depend on your individual needs, and can take between 20-60 minutes.

What do I need to bring?
To get the most from your A-Z Review we recommend you bring any additional information you have about your current banking. That could include your insurance policies, credit card statements, and details of any assets that you own.

How is this different to Financial Planning?
ANZ is a Qualifying Financial Entity.  Our branch staff are able to provide you with options based on your life stage to assist you with your banking decisions.  If you require specific advice or an investment plan in relation to matters such as building your investments, preparing yourself for retirement or protecting you and your family, we can organise a time that is convenient for you to meet with an ANZ Investment Specialist. Your initial appointment with an ANZ Investment Specialist is complimentary and without obligation.

What if I am not currently an ANZ customer?
An A-Z Review is not just for existing ANZ customers, we offer this complimentary, obligation free review to everyone.

How much does it cost?
An A-Z Review has no cost and no obligation, it is a complimentary service offered to you in every ANZ branch across New Zealand.

What if English is my second language?

If English is not your first language, we can put you in touch with a staff member who speaks your language, who will be able to help you with your A-Z Review.

Can I get an A-Z Review for my business banking?

Yes, an A-Z Review is available for business banking customers.  You can speak to one of our business managers, who can explore your business’ current financial situation and goals for the future in order to identify options that may suit your business.