Thinking about applying for a loan but not sure if you'd be approved, or what you need?
You're not alone — most people feel a bit unsure the first time.
Here's the honest, plain-English version of what we look for, what you'll need to have on hand, and how quickly things can move once you're ready. No jargon, no judgement — just a clear picture of what to expect, so there are no surprises along the way.
Before you fill out an application, here's what to check off:
Not quite there yet? We can still have a chat with you and a parent or guardian to see how we might be able to help in the meantime.
You'll need to be a resident or citizen and show us a recent bill or official letter with your home address. If you're on a work visa, we can lend for a term that ends before your visa does.
If you're not a NZ resident, we'll need to see your passport. Otherwise, your NZ driver licence or 18+/Kiwi Access card works fine.
We'll sit down with you (or work through it online) and look at your budget together. We'll ask for the last three months of your bank transactions — either through a secure link or statements you send us. Your credit history plays a part too. Not sure what a repayment might look like? Try our Loan Calculator to get a feel for it before you apply.
First loan with us? It might take a little longer than it would for a returning customer — but we'll be with you every step, making sure you understand exactly what you're signing up for.
Here's what we'll ask you about:
How much you need
What it's for
The best way to reach you
Where you live
How you earn your income
That's it. Hit Apply Now when you're ready — it's simple, and there's help on hand if you get stuck.
Wondering about costs? See our Rates & Fees for the full picture.
Our interest rates range from 9.95% to 29.95% per year, depending on things like your circumstances, credit history, and any security offered.
Once your rate is set, it's locked in for the life of your loan — no surprise increases. There are also a few small set-up and administration fees, which we'll walk you through clearly before you sign anything.
Want the full breakdown, including default rates and our complete fee schedule? Head over to our Rates & Fees page.
Once we've got your application, we get straight into figuring out how we can make it work for you. We know waiting is the hard part, so we move as fast as we can — and if we need anything else from you, we'll be in touch quickly. Here's what goes into our decision:
Everyone hits a rough patch now and then — we get that. What we're really looking for is a track record of getting back on top of things.
A loan you can't comfortably afford isn't good for you, and it isn't good for us either. We'll take the time to find the right term and amount for your situation.
For some loans, we'll ask for security — your car, home, or another asset. We'll check its value and make sure there's nothing else owing on it.
Term, repayment size, how often you pay, whether payment protection makes sense for you — we'll talk it all through so it fits your life, not just our paperwork.
Help us move things along by giving us as much information as you can up front — your bank statements, plus quick answers if we follow up on anything.
Do that, and we can often get you approved with your documents sorted on the same day, and the cash in your account not far behind. When timing's tight, we move fast to match.
Help us by completing the application with as much information as possible, provide us with your bank statements and talking to us about the various things we may need to follow up on. We can usually provide approval and complete loan documents on a same-day basis so we can get the cash into your account. When urgency is the key, we can deliver!
Our minimum loan term is 3 months, and our maximum loan period is typically 7 years.
Instant Finance provides loans at an annual interest rate from 9.95% to 29.95% per annum.
The rate that applies to your loan will be based on a range of factors including your circumstances, credit history with us or others, the security you can provide and the loan amount.
Once set, the interest rate is fixed for the term of your loan.
If you get behind in your loan repayments, then we may charge a default interest rate on any overdue loan payments, while they are unpaid.
For Personal Loans written prior to 1 March 2026, the Default rate that we charge is 10% per annum above the Interest Rate that normally applies to your loan.
For Personal Loans written after 1 March 2026, the Default rate that we charge is 5% per annum.
On this basis the maximum annual interest rate charged would be 39.95%
From $100 to $220 depending on amount of new money borrowed.
$2.55 per person
$7.70 per person
$8.05
$3 (per instalment)
