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Evidence · Home lending

The questions and original answers

Explore every question and captured response in the home-lending study, including answers asked nationally and from four cities.

questions
193
captured answers
1,094
AI platforms
4
collected
11 October 2026

01

Every question, with its answers

Each question was written as a voter would ask it and went to all four assistants. Some were also asked from a town. Open a question to read every answer to it in full.

Showing 20 of 193 questions

Show all 193

02

The tables behind the study

Every figure on the study page comes from these tables. They are CSV files, which open in any spreadsheet.

  • Question catalogue

    questions.csv

    One row per question.

    Question ID, borrower, exact question, group and collected answers

    193rows

    Download question catalogue (CSV)

  • Answers

    answers.csv

    One row per answer, with its full text.

    Answer ID, question ID, borrower, assistant, city, words, coded recommendations, showed a link and full text

    1,094rows

    Download answers (CSV)

  • Sources by answer

    sources.csv

    One row for each website recorded as a source of an answer.

    Answer ID, question ID, assistant, city, website and publisher type

    4,574rows

    Download sources by answer (CSV)

  • Checks against official sources

    checks.csv

    One row per statement checked.

    Check, answer ID, assistant, what the answer said, verdict, what the source says, source and date

    4rows

    Download checks against official sources (CSV)

  • Recommendation coding

    recommendation-coding.csv

    One row per coded national loan-choice or support answer.

    Answer ID, question ID, borrower, assistant, question group, recommended lenders and supporting passages

    360rows

    Download recommendation coding (CSV)

  • Platform comparisons

    platform-recommendation-counts.csv

    One row per platform, lender and question group.

    Matched panel, recommended answers, denominator and supporting answer IDs

    105rows

    Download platform comparisons (CSV)

  • City comparisons

    city-recommendation-counts.csv

    One row per city, lender and question group.

    Matched panel, recommended answers, denominator and supporting answer IDs

    112rows

    Download city comparisons (CSV)

Use these tables to trace findings back to the original questions and answers. The full text of each answer is also on this page, under its question.

03

Read in full and checked

Some answers were read in detail or checked against official sources. Those appear on the study page, beside the findings they support.

ChatGPT · National

best bank pay off mortgage top up early

If you're in New Zealand and want the best bank to pay off your mortgage early or top up your home loan, I'd compare more than just the advertised interest rate. The best option depends on whether you want to make extra repayments, borrow additional money against your home, or refinance to another bank.

What to look for in a NZ bank

  • Extra repayments without penalties — especially if you want to pay more than your agreed mortgage payment.
  • A revolving-credit or offset mortgage — these can help reduce interest if you keep savings or extra cash available.
  • Low interest rates and cashback offers — useful if you're considering switching banks.
  • Flexible top-ups — important if you want to borrow more while keeping your repayments manageable.

A key point: if your mortgage is on a fixed rate, making extra repayments or breaking the loan early can trigger fees or break costs. Some banks allow limited extra repayments without a penalty.

My shortlist of NZ banks

Bank Best for What stands out
Kiwibank Paying down your mortgage using savings Offset home loan lets linked everyday-account balances reduce interest; extra payments are allowed without a fee. Offset home loan | Home loans
BNZ Paying extra while on a fixed rate Its standard fixed-rate home loan allows up to 5% extra of the loan balance each year without an early repayment charge. Home loan types
ANZ Increasing regular repayments Eligible fixed-rate borrowers can increase regular repayments by up to $250 a week without an early repayment recovery charge, subject to conditions. Changing your mortgage repayments
Westpac Eligible energy-related home improvements Its Greater Choices home loan offers a 0% interest top-up for up to $50,000 over five years, subject to eligibility. Bank loans for home energy upgrades

You can compare current mortgage rates and fees through interest.co.nz.

Let me narrow it down for you

When you say you want to pay off your mortgage top-up early, which situation applies?

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · National

best bank pay off mortgage top up early

When looking to pay off a New Zealand mortgage early, make extra repayments, or set up a flexible "top-up" and loan structure, the "best" bank depends heavily on how you structure your loan (fixed vs. floating vs. revolving credit/offset) rather than a single standout lender.

Major New Zealand banks (ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Kiwibank, Westpac, and TSB) all provide similar foundational tools, but they differ slightly in their caps, flexibility, and features for early repayments.

1. Key Features to Look for in NZ Banks

To pay off a mortgage early without incurring penalties (such as Early Repayment Adjustments/Break Fees on fixed terms), look for these mechanisms:

  • Fixed-Rate Overpayment Allowances: Most major NZ banks (such as ANZ, Kiwibank, and TSB) allow you to make extra regular payments or lump sums up to a certain threshold (typically 5% of the initial fixed loan balance per year) without triggering break fees.
  • Revolving Credit & Offset Facilities: If you want maximum flexibility to dump spare cash or your salary straight onto the mortgage to reduce daily interest—while still keeping funds accessible—banks like ASB (Orbit), BNZ (TotalMoney), ANZ (Flexible Prepayment/Offset), and Kiwibank offer robust revolving credit or offset structures.
  • Split Loan Flexibility: The standard strategy recommended by NZ mortgage brokers is splitting your mortgage. You lock a portion into a competitive fixed rate for certainty, and keep a smaller portion on a floating rate or revolving credit where you can throw unlimited extra cash at it penalty-free.

2. How the Major NZ Banks Compare for Early Repayments

  • Kiwibank & TSB: Frequently noted for flexible digital banking features, clear guidelines on increasing regular payments via mobile apps, and standard 5% annual fixed-term lump-sum allowances. TSB also offers strong local service and straightforward loan structuring.
  • ANZ, ASB, BNZ, & Westpac (The Big Four):
    • They all provide comprehensive offset and revolving credit options which are the ultimate tools for paying down principal early because every dollar sitting in a linked account offsets daily loan interest.
    • Their fixed-rate early repayment terms are legally bound by similar rules under the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act (CCCFA), meaning they generally enforce a 5% cap on extra annual lump-sum pay-downs before calculating potential break fees.

3. Action Plan to Pay Off Your Mortgage Faster in NZ

  1. Review your current loan structure: Check if your mortgage is 100% locked into a fixed term. If it is, you are restricted by your bank's annual overpayment limit (usually 5%).
  2. Utilize a split-loan strategy at your next re-fix: Divide your mortgage into chunks (e.g., 80% on a 1-year or 2-year fixed rate for stability, and 20% on a floating or revolving credit facility to aggressively attack the principal).
  3. Automate increased repayments: Log into your internet banking (or use your bank's mobile app) to step up your fortnightly or monthly payments slightly above the mandatory minimum. Even an extra $50 to $100 a fortnight heavily cuts down the overall term and interest paid over the life of the loan.
  4. Time lump sums with your re-fix date: If you have large cash windfalls (like bonuses or inheritance) exceeding your bank's annual free-repayment cap, hold them in a high-yield savings account or offset account and pay them off completely penalty-free on the exact day your fixed term expires and you re-fix.

Would you like to calculate how much interest you could save by increasing your regular mortgage payments by a specific dollar amount?

Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

AI Overviews · National

best bank pay off mortgage top up early

AI Overview

There is no single “best bank” in New Zealand for early mortgage payoffs or topping up, as the ideal lender depends on how your specific loan is structured and your repayment strategy.

Instead of choosing by bank brand, your focus should be on the rules governing fixed vs. floating limits, offset options, and top-up flexibilities across the major lenders.

1. Best for Making Extra Regular Repayments (Fixed Loans)

If you lock into a fixed-rate mortgage but want to make extra regular payments, different banks have different thresholds before they hit you with an Early Repayment Adjustment (ERA) or break fee.

  • ASB : Highly flexible. They allow you to increase your fixed repayments by up to $500 per fortnight ($1,000 per month) without triggering an ERA.

  • Westpac : Features a "Choices Fixed" home loan that includes a digital repayment slider. You can increase your payments by up to 20% above the minimum amount and slide it back down if you experience unexpected expenses.

  • BNZ & Kiwibank: Typically operate on a 5% threshold rule. You can pay off up to 5% of your original or remaining loan balance each year without penalty.

  • TSB : Allows up to $10,000 per calendar year in extra fee-free lump sum payments on fixed loans.

2. Best for Saving Interest via Savings (Offset Structures)

If you have a cash buffer or savings, an Offset Mortgage lets you pay down your loan faster without technically "breaking" a contract. Your savings balance is subtracted from your loan balance, so you only pay interest on the difference.

  • BNZ (TotalMoney) : Widely considered one of the market leaders for this strategy. It allows you to link up to 50 different accounts —including those belonging to partners, parents, or children—to offset the home loan balance.

  • Kiwibank & Westpac: Also offer strong offset products that give you 100% access to your cash while actively keeping your daily mortgage interest calculation as low as possible.

3. Rules for "Topping Up" and Early Repayments

If you are looking to "top up" your mortgage (borrow more money against your equity for renovations, a car, etc.) while also trying to pay it off early , keep these national lending policies in mind:

  • Floating/Variable Portions : The most effective NZ strategy is to split your mortgage. Keep the majority on a low fixed rate, and put a smaller portion (e.g., $20,000 to $50,000) on a floating/variable rate. Floating loans allow unlimited, fee-free extra payments at any time.

  • Sustainable Top-Up Deals : If your top-up is for a warmer, drier, or greener home, major banks like ANZ , ASB , and BNZ offer heavily discounted sustainable top-ups (e.g., up to $80,000 fixed at 1% for 3 years). Westpac even offers an interest-free option up to $50,000 for 5 years on qualifying upgrades.

  • Top-Up Fees : Standard administrative top-up fees are generally low across the board, typically hovering around $100 to $150 if done outside a standard refix period.

Comparison of Key Features for Early Payoff

Bank Fixed Repayment Excess Limit Best Feature for Fast Payoff
ASB Up to $500/fortnight extra Great for consistent salary earners who want to max out regular payments.
BNZ Up to 5% of loan balance per year TotalMoney Offset lets you use extended family savings to wipe out interest.
Westpac Up to 20% over minimum Choices Fixed slider allows you to change payment size seamlessly in your app.
Kiwibank Up to 5% of loan balance per year Highly competitive fixed rates combined with solid offset structures.

To narrow this down for your situation, could you share what you intend to use the top-up for (e.g., renovations, debt consolidation) and how much extra cash you think you can put toward the mortgage each month?

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026