Which lenders does AI recommend — and how does the answer change once you have the mortgage? We explored twelve borrower situations across four AI platforms and four cities.
9of 12
Borrower profiles put BNZ at the top for ongoing support.Its support position spans borrowers with very different needs, from contractors to households with a completed home build.
Explore support recommendations
8of 14
For the couple with a 10% deposit, SBS led recommendations after purchase. Co-operative followed in seven answers.
Explore the first-home couple
12of 16
Co-operative led this homeowner’s shortlist, ahead of ANZ and BNZ at ten answers each.
Explore the switcher37of 38
We asked the same questions across four AI platforms. Their recommended lender sets differed on 37 of them.
Compare the platforms19 · 5of 43
The same questions put Co-operative in nineteen Christchurch answers and five Dunedin answers.
Compare the cities12of 38
Resimac still appeared in the shortlist after it stopped accepting new NZ home-loan applications.
Read the accuracy findingsHow we asked the questions and counted the recommendations.
Each row is a borrower situation. Each column is a lender. The number shows the percentage of national choice answers recommending that lender. Select a square to read the supporting answers.
Showing all four assistants · 181 answers
| Borrower |  ANZ |  ASB | BNZ |  Westpac |  Kiwibank | Co-operative | SBS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First home · 10% deposit | ||||||||
| Solo contractor | ||||||||
| Approaching a refix | ||||||||
| Considering a switch | ||||||||
| Buying before selling | ||||||||
| Business-owning couple | ||||||||
| First rental property | ||||||||
| Building in stages | ||||||||
| Income drop | ||||||||
| Separation | ||||||||
| First home · 25% deposit | ||||||||
| $60,000 renovation |
The same borrowers, after the lending decision. Each square shows the percentage of national support answers recommending the lender for ongoing help.
Showing all four assistants · 179 answers
| Borrower | ANZ | ASB | BNZ | Westpac | Kiwibank | Co-operative | SBS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First home · 10% deposit | ||||||||
| Solo contractor | ||||||||
| Approaching a refix | ||||||||
| Considering a switch | ||||||||
| Buying before selling | ||||||||
| Business-owning couple | ||||||||
| First rental property | ||||||||
| Building in stages | ||||||||
| Income drop | ||||||||
| Separation | ||||||||
| First home · 25% deposit | ||||||||
| $60,000 renovation |
Compare the same questions answered by each platform.
ChatGPT
36/ 38
BNZMost frequently recommended for choosing a loan.
Gemini
29/ 38
WestpacMost frequently recommended for choosing a loan.
Google AI Mode
32/ 38
ASBBNZJointly most frequently recommended for choosing a loan.
AI Overviews
29/ 38
ANZMost frequently recommended for choosing a loan.
Gemini includes Kiwibank in one of four matched choice answers. ChatGPT, AI Mode and AI Overviews each include it in all four.
Explore the contractorCo-operative appeared in 19 Christchurch loan-choice answers and five in Dunedin.
Explore the questions, lender recommendations and original answers for each of the twelve borrower situations.
Explore the websites behind the answers: lenders, government, news, comparison sites, consumer groups and businesses. Select a question group to compare the sources each assistant used most.
ChatGPT
48%lender websites
Had sources265of 287
Showed you a link287of 287
bnz.co.nz, lender websites,cited in 162 answers162kiwibank.co.nz, lender websites,cited in 102 answers102anz.co.nz, lender websites,cited in 98 answers98asb.co.nz, lender websites,cited in 87 answers87
canstar.co.nz, comparison & tools,cited in 70 answers70westpac.co.nz, lender websites,cited in 63 answers63
consumerprotection.govt.nz, government,cited in 56 answers56
bankomb.org.nz, consumer groups,cited in 46 answers46
rbnz.govt.nz, government,cited in 45 answers45Gemini
27%businesses
Had sources273of 289
Showed you a link3of 289
moneyhub.co.nz, comparison & tools,cited in 98 answers98
opespartners.co.nz, businesses,cited in 42 answers42canstar.co.nz, comparison & tools,cited in 40 answers40
calculate.co.nz, comparison & tools,cited in 38 answers38
simpler.co.nz, businesses,cited in 36 answers36bnz.co.nz, lender websites,cited in 32 answers32kiwibank.co.nz, lender websites,cited in 32 answers32anz.co.nz, lender websites,cited in 27 answers27westpac.co.nz, lender websites,cited in 25 answers25
mortgagelab.co.nz, businesses,cited in 20 answers20Google AI Mode
28%comparison & tools
Had sources253of 265
Showed you a link100of 265
moneyhub.co.nz, comparison & tools,cited in 114 answers114canstar.co.nz, comparison & tools,cited in 65 answers65westpac.co.nz, lender websites,cited in 36 answers36bnz.co.nz, lender websites,cited in 33 answers33
consumer.org.nz, consumer groups,cited in 21 answers21
squirrel.co.nz, businesses,cited in 21 answers21kiwibank.co.nz, lender websites,cited in 18 answers18
adviser.loanmarket.co.nz, businesses,cited in 16 answers16asb.co.nz, lender websites,cited in 16 answers16simpler.co.nz, businesses,cited in 16 answers16AI Overviews
32%other
Had sources236of 253
Showed you a link120of 253
moneyhub.co.nz, comparison & tools,cited in 119 answers119canstar.co.nz, comparison & tools,cited in 78 answers78squirrel.co.nz, businesses,cited in 71 answers71bnz.co.nz, lender websites,cited in 63 answers63
facebook.com, social media,cited in 61 answers61simpler.co.nz, businesses,cited in 60 answers60westpac.co.nz, lender websites,cited in 58 answers58
mortgages.co.nz, comparison & tools,cited in 50 answers50
moneybalance.co.nz, other,cited in 46 answers46
finchmortgages.co.nz, businesses,cited in 43 answers43A website counts once per answer, however many claims cite it. Publisher groups classify the top websites; remaining domains appear as Other. Counts use archived answer sources; ‘Showed you a link’ counts answers containing a web URL.
The answers recommended lenders whose new-lending routes had closed, and named an insurer as a mortgage lender. Compare the captured statements with the official sources we checked on 11 October 2026.
1 wrong3 out of date0 unclear0 correct
Google AI Mode
“If mainstream retail banks decline your refinance application due to the income drop, non-bank lenders (such as Resimac, Asteron, or specialized second-tier lenders) focus more heavily on your equity (how much of the house you own) and your proven payment history rather than rigid income formulas.”
Asteron Life is an insurer offering life insurance and income protection. It is not a mortgage lender.
Checked against Asteron Life (opens in a new tab) · 11 October 2026
Google AI Mode
“Resimac: Another prominent non-bank lender in New Zealand offering prime and specialist lending options for borrowers with non-traditional income histories.”
Resimac stopped accepting new NZ home-loan applications on 1 July 2024. It continues servicing existing customers.
Checked against Resimac NZ (opens in a new tab) · 11 October 2026
AI Overviews
“Resimac NZ: Provides tailored solutions for borrowers who do not fit the rigid criteria of traditional banks.”
Resimac stopped accepting new NZ home-loan applications on 1 July 2024. It continues servicing existing customers.
Checked against Resimac NZ (opens in a new tab) · 11 October 2026
Gemini
“The Co-operative Bank & Heartland Bank: Why compare: Smaller New Zealand-owned banks or building societies frequently run targeted campaigns featuring slightly discounted fixed rates or flexible cashback packages to attract quality borrowers away from the big four.”
Heartland’s standard home loans are closed to new customers. Top-ups and increases are also unavailable.
Checked against Heartland home loans (opens in a new tab) · 11 October 2026
Borrower cases, question groups and how recommendations were counted.
Read the methodOpen the exact questions and captured responses from each platform.
Explore the evidenceNZBrands.ai is a research publication from Onsomble. We take no view on any party or policy. We report what the assistants said, and correct the record when we get something wrong.
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