Do you build open banking-ready APIs for New Zealand fintechs?

Yes, we build account and payment APIs designed to align with New Zealand's developing customer and product data-sharing standards as they roll out sector by sector.

Can you build open banking APIs without a full core system rewrite?

Yes. We wrap your existing core in a modern API middleware layer, exposing compliant account and payment APIs without touching core transaction logic.

How do you handle AML/KYC compliance during integration?

We build identity verification, sanctions/PEP screening, and transaction monitoring workflows directly into the platform, with audit logging that traces every decision for regulator review.

Can you integrate with our existing card and payment rail providers?

Yes, we connect correspondent banking, card networks, and instant payment schemes into a single orchestration and reconciliation layer.

What does an open banking API project timeline look like?

A typical account information and payment initiation API program, including a developer portal and sandbox, ships in 8-14 weeks depending on the number of endpoints and your existing infrastructure.

Banking & Fintech · New Zealand

Banking & Fintech Software Development in New Zealand

Banks and fintechs are under pressure to open their platforms via APIs, modernize legacy cores, and meet open-banking and AML obligations without disrupting existing operations or customer trust. In New Zealand, that means building to the expectations of Asia-Pacific: New Zealand assesses crypto-asset activity under the existing Financial Markets Conduct Act rather than a dedicated crypto licensing regime, with the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) determining case by case whether a token or service is a regulated financial product.

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New Zealand Regulatory Landscape

What banking & fintech businesses in New Zealand need to know

New Zealand assesses crypto-asset activity under the existing Financial Markets Conduct Act rather than a dedicated crypto licensing regime, with the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) determining case by case whether a token or service is a regulated financial product.
Payment system oversight and financial stability sit with the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ).
Open banking-style data-sharing standards are developing under New Zealand's evolving customer and product data framework.
We build to current FMA and RBNZ expectations and flag classification-sensitive features for review by New Zealand legal counsel given the case-by-case approach.

This information is provided for general orientation only and is not legal or licensing advice. Always confirm current requirements with qualified local counsel.

The Challenge

What banking & fintech operators struggle with

Core systems that block product velocity

Vendor-locked core banking platforms turn a simple product change into a multi-quarter release cycle, while fintech challengers ship weekly.

Open banking deadlines without a clean path

Regulatory mandates require standards-compliant account and payment APIs on a fixed timeline, with no room for a risky core rewrite.

Manual AML/KYC review queues

Identity verification and sanctions screening still route through manual case queues, slowing onboarding and creating audit exposure.

Fragmented cross-border rails

Correspondent banking, card networks, and instant payment schemes are stitched together ad hoc, causing reconciliation gaps and settlement delays.

Our Approach

How we support banking & fintech in New Zealand

Open banking & partner API programs

We design and build account information and payment initiation APIs with OAuth2/OIDC consent flows and self-service developer portals that cut partner onboarding from weeks to days.

Core modernization without a big-bang rewrite

Strangler-fig migration wraps legacy cores in modern middleware, letting you ship new products without a risky, multi-year core replacement.

AML/KYC and transaction monitoring automation

Automated identity verification, sanctions/PEP screening, and ML-driven transaction monitoring replace manual review queues and shrink false positives.

Cross-border payment hub integration

A central orchestration layer connects card networks, correspondent banks, and instant payment rails behind one reconciled ledger.

Audit-ready security & compliance controls

Secure architecture review, immutable audit logging, and regulator-ready reporting are built into the platform ahead of your next licensing or partner audit.

Relevant Services

Engineering practices for this industry

API & Platform

API Integration & Open Banking Engineering

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Cloud & DevOps

Cloud Modernization & DevOps Engineering

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Security & Compliance

Cybersecurity, AML/KYC & Compliance Engineering

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FAQ

Banking & Fintech in New Zealand — FAQ

We design token and platform architecture with clear documentation of the token's function and rights, which supports an FMA financial-product assessment, and we recommend confirming classification with New Zealand legal counsel before launch.