BNZ Transfer Times: Domestic and International Processing Speeds

Sending money with BNZ and unsure how long the transfer will take? You’re not alone; the timing can vary, and it helps to know what to expect.

In this guide, we’ll walk through BNZ’s domestic and international transfer speeds, the factors that influence processing times, and the daily cut-off times that can affect when your payment goes through as well as also look at common reasons transfers might be delayed. We'll also introduce to you Wise that can help you save on international transfers with it's low, transparent fees and mid-market exchange rates.

What affects BNZ’s transfer times?

The speed of a BNZ bank transfer can vary based on a number of different factors, including:

• Transfer cut-off times
• Domestic or international destination
• Processing speeds of intermediary banks and the recipient’s bank
• Weekend and public holiday delays
• Security checks
• Technical issues

In general, transfers between BNZ accounts are the fastest, with transfers overseas or to another bank in New Zealand taking a bit longer.

BNZ domestic transfer times

Starting off with domestic transfers, these are largely influenced by whether the funds are being sent within BNZ, or to another New Zealand bank such as Kiwibank, ASB, or Westpac.¹

To BNZ accounts

If you are sending a once-off transfer, bill payment or direct credit to another BNZ account, it will be processed immediately. This includes business accounts, as well as personal accounts.

To other domestic banks

For once-off transfers, bill payments and direct credit being sent to other banks, there are cut off times that impact the processing speed.

If the payment is made between 9.00 am and 11.55 pm, the money will be debited from your account straight away. It’ll then be sent to the other bank, usually within an hour.

If the payment is made after 11.55 pm, the money will still be debited from your account straight away, but won’t be sent to the other bank until after 9.00 am the next morning.

Automatic payments and direct debits

Automatic payments are ones you’ve set up in advance, including recurring payments. BNZ processes these automatically at 5.30 am on the due date, unless there are insufficient funds. If that happens, it’ll be marked as ‘retrying’ and the bank will attempt to process the payment again later.

Processing for direct debit payments starts at 9am, but happens throughout the day.

Weekends and public holidays

BNZ is part of an agreement with other participating New Zealand banks to process domestic payments 7 days a week. This means weekends and public holidays are treated no differently to business days, although the type of payment can still influence how long it takes to arrive.

BNZ international transfer times

BNZ doesn’t specify how long an international transfer takes, but the typical time for a telegraphic transfer abroad is 1-5 business days. The exact speed depends on factors like the bank’s cut off times, the destination, any additional security checks needed, and the number of intermediary banks involved in the transfer.

BNZ international payments made via Internet Banking of the BNZ app are only processed on business days, from 7.00 am to 11.00 pm. Outside of this they can be initiated via secure mail, which takes two business days to process.

On top of the processing window, BNZ also has daily cut-off times that are applied based on the currency and destination.² Here are the cut-off times for a few major currencies.

It’s also important to note that foreign currency transfers can’t be processed on days that are a public holiday in the destination.

Why your BNZ transfer might be delayed

If your BNZ transfer has been delayed there will be a logical reason for it. Some of the common issues that can cause delays in the transfer of funds are:

• Insufficient account balance
• Technical problems at BNZ
• Additional security checks or compliance measures are needed
• Unusual destination or currency
• Processing delays at one of the other banks involved in the transfer

A slow transfer doesn’t automatically mean there’s a problem, but if you’re concerned you can check your account transaction history to see if the transfer failed, or speak to BNZ Bank’s customer service agents to find out what’s happened.

Understanding BNZ processing times

BNZ's transfer times aren't fixed; they depend on the day and method of sending the payment. By keeping the bank’s processing rules in mind, you can anticipate arrival times more accurately and worry less. That said, if speed and flexibility are your top priorities for moving money within New Zealand or abroad, Wise offers an alternative service that may be worth a look.

Get fast and low cost transfers with Wise

Wise is an easy way to save up to 6x when sending money overseas. You can make extra secure transfers to 140+ countries, which are easy to set up with no physical paperwork and completed usually in seconds.

With low, transparent pricing and the mid-market exchange rate for all your currency conversions for your foreign transfers, you'll usually get the best value for your money. Wise lets you see exactly what you're paying for a transfer, and what the recipient will get, with no hidden fees.

For managing foreign currencies even easier, create a free Wise account, and you'll be able to manage and convert your money in NZD and 40+ other currencies. Plus, you'll get local account details in 8+ currencies, making it easy to receive money from abroad whenever you need. You'll be able to track your transfers all in one place.

When it comes to international transfers, Wise makes things easier and cheaper.

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Date: 6 December 2025