Changes to accounts and fees

From 1 October 2026, we're simplifying our Everyday accounts and fees to make them easier to understand.

We're removing the monthly account management fees, and making automatic payments, bill payments and direct debits free.

Some card-related fees will apply differently, depending on how you use your account.

Changes to Everyday accounts

From 1 October, the following will apply to Everyday accounts:

• Removal of the monthly account management fee (currently $3.50 per month).
• Free automatic payments, bill payments, and direct debits (currently $0.35 per transaction).
• Debit Mastercard® transaction fees will now apply to all card transactions.

Registered students studying full time and under 18 year olds will remain exempt from approved domestic Debit Mastercard transaction fees.

Changes to Everyday Unlimited accounts

From 1 October, the Everyday Unlimited account will become an Everyday account. We're moving to one Everyday account with a simpler fee structure. The key changes are:

• No monthly account management fee (currently $12 per month for Everyday Unlimited).
• Automatic payments, bill payments and direct debits will remain free.
• Debit Mastercard transaction fees will now apply to all card transactions.

You don't need to do anything. We'll make the change for you, and your account will continue to work as normal with the Everyday name and fee structure from 1 October.

Changes to Bill Pay accounts

From 1 October, automatic payments, bill payments, and direct debits will be free for Bill Pay accounts (currently $0.35 per transaction). These changes make Bill Pay accounts simpler and more cost-effective for members.

Changes to Debit Mastercard fees

Debit Mastercard administration fee

A $1.50 monthly administration fee will apply to each Debit Mastercard to help cover the ongoing costs of securely maintaining and processing your card.

Declined Debit Mastercard transactions

A new fee will apply when a Debit Mastercard transaction is declined because you don't have enough money available in your account. The fee will be:

• $0.35 for domestic transactions
• $0.80 for international transactions

This fee applies to all debit card transactions regardless of the account but does not apply to ATM withdrawals.

You can avoid a declined transaction fee by:

• Checking your available balance before making payments or using your card. You can do this in Mobile Banking, Internet Banking or at an ATM.
• Cancelling subscription payments you no longer use.

Declined debit card transactions will now appear in your transaction history and statements, giving you a clearer view of your account activity.

From 1 October, Debit Mastercard® transaction fees will be charged daily instead of monthly.

Other fee changes

Staff-assisted services

The fee for staff-assisted services will increase from $3 to $5 each time. Members aged 65 and over, registered students studying full time, and members under 18 will remain exempt.

What do I need to do?

You don't need to do anything. Your accounts will continue to work as normal.

If you'd like help understanding what these changes mean for you, our team can talk through your options.

Frequently asked questions

Will I pay more or less in fees?

These changes don't mean everyone will pay more. The impact will depend on how you use your account.

We're removing some fees, including the monthly account management fee and fees for automatic payments, bill payments, and direct debits. Some existing fees will apply differently, and a small number of new fees are being introduced to help cover the cost of providing these services.

If you're unsure how the changes may affect you, our team can talk through your individual situation with you.

Are the Debit Mastercard transaction fees increasing?

No. The per-transaction fees are not increasing. However, the number of free Debit Mastercard transactions included with some accounts is changing.

What's changing:

• For Everyday, the 20 free transactions each month are ending.
• For Everyday Unlimited, unlimited free transactions are ending.

From 1 October 2026, Debit Mastercard transaction fees will apply from your first transaction: $0.35 for domestic transactions and $0.80 for international transactions.

Why is there a new $1.50 Debit Mastercard administration fee?

There are ongoing costs involved in securely maintaining and processing Debit Mastercards, including the technology and services needed to support card payments. The $1.50 monthly administration fee helps us recover some of these costs.

Why am I being charged for Debit Mastercard transactions now?

We're not changing these fees simply to increase what members pay. We're changing how they apply so that members who use Debit Mastercard transactions contribute towards the cost of providing them.

Everyday accounts currently include 20 free Debit Mastercard transactions each month, while Everyday Unlimited accounts include unlimited Debit Mastercard transactions. This means the cost is more directly linked to use of the service.

What happens if I have an Everyday Unlimited account?

From 1 October, your Everyday Unlimited account will automatically become an Everyday account. You don't need to do anything. This means:

• You won't pay a monthly account management fee.
• Automatic payments, bill payments and direct debits will be free.
• Your unlimited free Debit Mastercard transactions will end.
• You'll pay $0.35 for each domestic Debit Mastercard transaction and $0.80 for each international Debit Mastercard transaction.

Your account number and existing account arrangements will remain the same.

Will my account number change?

No. Your account number will stay the same, including if your Everyday Unlimited account becomes an Everyday account.

What if I have both an Everyday and Everyday Unlimited account?

Both accounts will remain open. From 1 October, your Everyday Unlimited account will become an Everyday account. The new Everyday fees will apply to both accounts. You don't need to close either account or open a new one.

Why is there a new fee for declined transactions?

If a Debit Mastercard transaction is declined because you don't have enough available money in your account, there are still costs involved in processing the transaction.

When will I be charged a declined transaction fee?

You'll only be charged a declined transaction fee when a Debit Mastercard transaction is declined because you don't have enough available money in your account.

The fee is $0.35 for a domestic transaction and $0.80 for an international transaction. It doesn't apply to ATM withdrawals.

How can I avoid a declined transaction fee?

You can reduce the chance of being charged a declined transaction fee by:

• Checking your available balance before making a payment or using your card. You can do this in Mobile Banking, Internet Banking or at an ATM.
• Keeping track of upcoming subscriptions and recurring payments.
• Cancelling subscriptions or recurring payments you no longer use.

Why is the staff assisted fee increasing?

The fee is increasing from $3 to $5 per transaction to help cover more of the cost of providing staff-assisted services. This fee may apply when a transaction is completed with the help of a staff member in a branch or through our contact centre.

What does "available balance" mean?

Your available balance is the amount of money in your account that is available for you to spend or withdraw at that time. It may be different from your account balance. For example, money you've recently deposited may not be available yet, or money may already be set aside for pending transactions.

Will my salary, automatic payments or direct debits be affected?

No. Your existing salary payments, regular deposits, automatic payments and direct debits will continue as normal. Your existing recurring card payments will also continue as normal. You don't need to set them up again.

Direct Debit Honour Fee Update

From Tuesday, 30 June, our Direct Debit Honour Fee will increase from $17 to $20.

A Direct Debit Honour Fee applies when we allow a direct debit payment to go through even if there isn't enough money in your account at the time.

A direct debit is a payment you've authorised another organisation to take from your account for regular payments, such as rates, insurance premiums, or utility bills.

How to avoid this fee

There are a few simple ways to help avoid a Direct Debit Honour Fee:

• Make sure there are enough funds in your account before direct debits are due. Setting a reminder in your phone or calendar can help.
• Use internet banking to keep track of upcoming payments and your available balance.
• Review your regular direct debits from time to time to make sure they’re still needed and scheduled for the correct date. Where possible, aligning payment dates with when your income comes in can help ensure there are enough funds available.
• Consider using a Bill Pay account to help budget for regular bills and direct debits, so money is set aside when payments are due.
• Contact us early if you think you may have difficulty covering a payment.

What's the difference between an honour fee and a dishonour fee?

• A Direct Debit Honour Fee applies when we let a direct debit payment go through even though there isn’t enough money in the account, provided it doesn’t leave the account more than $99 overdrawn.^
• If a direct debit payment would leave the account more than $99 overdrawn, the payment won’t go through and a Direct Debit Dishonour Fee of $20 will be charged.

Need help?

If you're concerned about making an upcoming payment, get in touch with us as early as possible. We may be able to discuss options to help you stay on track and avoid fees.

^Please note that if you do not have an approved overdraft and your account goes into an unarranged overdraft, interest will be charged at 21.90% per annum, as advertised on our website.

Changes to our accounts

As a member-owned organisation, we regularly review our accounts and services to make sure they continue to meet member needs. 

From 3 June 2026, we’re making a few updates to some of our accounts. 

Everyday saver account 

The Everyday saver account is intended for saving rather than day-to-day spending.  

From 3 June 2026, the following fees will apply to Everyday saver accounts. These fees align with those that apply to our Everyday transactional accounts. 

If you have a Unity home loan, these fees won’t apply to you. 

Account fee: 

• Electronic transaction fee – $0.35 per transaction  

Service fees:

• International transaction fee – $0.80 per Mastercard^® transaction processed overseas 
• International ATM fee – $7 per withdrawal 

If you use your Everyday saver for regular spending, you may prefer to transfer funds to your Everyday or Everyday Unlimited account before making purchases. You can do this easily and for free via Internet Banking or the Mobile Banking App.  

These fees will be charged at the end of the day the transaction is processed. You can view our savings accounts here. 

Everyday Unlimited account 

For everyday spending, the Everyday Unlimited account provides a simple way to manage your day-to-day banking. 

From 3 June 2026, a $0.80 international transaction fee will apply to Debit Mastercard transactions processed overseas. If you have a Unity home loan, this fee won’t apply to you. 

We’re charged this fee from Mastercard, so it is not included in the $12 monthly account management fee.  

International transactions may include: 

• Online purchases or subscriptions with overseas companies 
• Transactions made in New Zealand but processed by an overseas provider 

Some payments may be processed overseas even if made in NZD or on a “.co.nz” website. Where this occurs, the international transaction fee will apply. 

International transaction fees will be charged at the end of the day on the same day the transaction is processed. 

You can view our Everyday transactional accounts here. 

Christmas saver account 

It’s never too early to start saving for Christmas. Even small amounts can build up over time. 

Unlike traditional Christmas clubs, our Christmas saver gives you flexibility to use your savings for whatever you like. 

From 3 June 2026, we’re making two changes to help your savings go further: 

• Interest increases from 1.80% p.a. to 2.25% p.a.^ 
• Withdrawal fee increases from $10 to $20 

To help you access your money when you need it most, withdrawals remain free from 1 November to 31 January each year.^* 

^Interest is calculated daily and paid on the last day of each month. Interest rates are subject to change without notice. Maximum deposit is $1.5 million per member. 

*Withdrawals and transfers made between 1 February and 31 October, through any channel, will incur a $20 fee, charged at the end of the day, on the day of the withdrawal. Staff-assisted fees apply if withdrawing via a branch or the call centre. 

What’s coming next 

We’re continuing to improve the way you bank with us.

In the coming months, we’ll introduce new security enhancements, including Confirmation of Payee, to help ensure payments go to the right account.

We’ll share more details before these changes go live, including anything you may need to do.

Need a hand? 

If you’re not sure which account suits your needs, or you’d like to make a change, just give us a call on 0800 229 943, email enquiries@unitymoney.co.nz, or visit your local branch. Our team is here to help.