ASB Introduces Support Finder Tool For All New Zealanders

Thursday, 6 July 2023, 3:27 pm
Press Release: ASB Bank

ASB has expanded its Support Finder tool to make it accessible to all New Zealanders, whether they are existing customers or not.

The Support Finder tool was launched in 2021 to connect customers to support payments provided by Ministry of Social Development and Inland Revenue they may be eligible for. Off the back of strong interest from customers, ASB is making Support Finder available to every Kiwi, regardless of where they bank, to help them establish what government support may be available to them.

Support Finder asks users a few simple questions and identifies if they may be eligible for financial help before guiding them to relevant government agencies where they can apply for support.

As part of the expansion, ASB has extended the number of support options, with 26 government benefits and payments now accessible via the Support Finder tool. It includes benefits and payments for students, jobseekers, those needing emergency food and housing grants, childcare subsidies including sole and young parent payments, transition to work grants and more.

Since its launch, Support Finder has connected thousands of ASB customers to more than $27m in support payments. ASB’s Head of Customer Advocacy Celia Pankhurst says making the tool available to all New Zealanders will benefit those in need, many who may be unaware of their eligibility and dipping into savings or borrowing money to bridge gaps.

“Whether you bank with us or not, we want to connect every Kiwi to the support that’s available to them. Through our own customers we see the impact the rising cost of living is having; from food inflation at its highest in 30 years to increases in rent and mortgages, we want to point New Zealanders doing it tough in the right direction.”

Savings balances are also in decline, with $467 less in the average Kiwi’s savings account than in July last year.

“We’d encourage anyone interested in finding out what government benefits they’re eligible for to make use of our Support Finder tool,” says Ms Pankhurst.

Notes to editors:

• Financial Wellbeing information is based on data from nearly 600,000 New Zealand adults that have their main bank relationship with ASB and includes high volumes of customers across all domestic regions and demographics. All data is anonymised and aggregated to protect the privacy of customers.
• Visit Support Finder to find out what government support you’re eligible for
• Full list of government benefits captured via the Support Finder tool below:
• Jobseeker support
• Young Parent payment
• Sole Parent support
• Supported Living Payment
• New Zealand Superannuation
• Childcare Subsidy
• Out of School Care and Recreation (OSCAR) Subsidy
• Accommodation Supplement
• Working for Families
• Temporary Additional Support
• Community Services Card
• Emergency housing
• Public housing
• Recoverable Assistance Payment
• Food grant
• Power, gas, water bills or heating
• Transition to Work Grant
• New transition to work
• $5k to work
• Seasonal Work Assistance
• Student allowance
• Student Loan
• Reduced student loan repayments
• Repayment holiday
• Debt instalment arrangement

© Scoop Media

ASB Bank

Helping you get one step ahead.

In 1847, ASB opened as the Auckland Savings Bank with the pledge: 'to serve the community; to grow and to help Kiwis grow'. And that is very much what ASB is about today.

ASB is a leading provider of integrated financial services in New Zealand including retail, business and rural banking, funds management and insurance.

ASB strives to consistently provide its customers with outstanding service and innovative financial solutions. They're dedicated to providing simple financial products that allow their customers to bank with them how and when they want.

We all have our own ways to measure progress, and our own stories about the things that matter to us. Whatever way you choose to measure progress, and whatever your goals, ASB is there to help you get one step ahead.

Contact ASB Bank

• Info on - Bank Accounts
• Info on - ASB Home Loans
• Info on - ASB Credit Cards
• Link to - Mortgage Calculator
• Info on - Business Banking
• Info on - ASB Kiwisaver
• Link to - ASB Blog
• Info on - Personal Loans