How bank connections work
Last updated: August 2026
- Read only. We can see accounts, balances and transactions you approve. Nothing else.
- We can't move money. The connection has no ability to make payments or change anything at your bank.
- No bank passwords. You never enter your banking login into KiwiBudget, and we never see or store it.
- You set the clock. Access lasts until you disconnect, and disconnecting takes two taps.
Why connect your bank?
Connecting your bank is what turns KiwiBudget from a notebook into an autopilot. Your transactions arrive on their own and sort themselves into categories, your balances stay current, and your weekly spending number is always real, with nothing to type in. You can use KiwiBudget without connecting a bank, but this is the part that makes it feel effortless.
What access are you granting?
When you connect, you choose which accounts to share. For those accounts, KiwiBudget receives account names, balances, and transaction details. When you first connect we fetch your recent transaction history (the last 90 days by default, up to 12 months if you ask for more), and after that we fetch updates when you open the app (if it has been a few hours since the last one) or tap Sync, until you tell us to stop.
The access is strictly read only. KiwiBudget cannot make payments, move money, open or close accounts, or change anything at your bank. Bank connections are also protected by two-factor authentication in the app, so a code from your authenticator is required before a connection can be set up.
About Akahu
Akahu is New Zealand's open finance platform. We use Akahu to fetch account and transaction data from your connected bank accounts. You authorise the connection with your bank or with Akahu directly, which means your banking credentials are never entered into, seen by, or stored by KiwiBudget. You can read more about how Akahu handles your data in Akahu's privacy policy.
Staying in control
- See what's connected: the Accounts screen in KiwiBudget lists every account you've connected and when it last synced.
- Disconnect one account: unlink any single account from the Accounts screen whenever you like.
- Disconnect everything: one action removes all bank connections and the imported bank data that came with them.
- Delete your account: deleting your KiwiBudget account automatically revokes all bank access at Akahu as well. Nothing lingers.
- Manage it from Akahu's side: you can also view and revoke KiwiBudget's access at my.akahu.nz, independently of us.
If a connection stops working (for example, you revoked it from Akahu's side or your bank required re-authorisation), KiwiBudget marks it as disconnected in the app so you always know its status. Connections that sit unused for an extended period are switched off automatically rather than left open.
Questions?
We're happy to explain anything about how this works before you connect. Email support@kiwibudget.nz or call 0800 002 798. See also our Privacy Policy.