Store cards, loans, credit card debt, hire purchases, buy now pay later and an overdraft piling up on you?

It might be time for a debt consolidation loan. Debt consolidation loans are designed to simplify your borrowing and repayments into one fixed-interest rate loan — one repayment to manage instead of juggling several, so you can get ahead sooner. No stress.

Get an Instant Finance debt consolidation loan and find relief from bad credit, buy now pay later fees and multiple debts.

Have a play with our loan calculator below or talk to our helpful team to find out more about our debt consolidation options and see the estimated repayment for a specific loan term.

At a glance

  • Personalised interest rates from 9.95% to 29.95% p.a.

  • Borrow $500 to $50,000, secured or unsecured

  • Loan terms from 3 months to 7 years

  • Apply online in minutes — funds usually within 24 hours of approval, once accepted

  • One repayment instead of several — consolidate credit cards, store cards, hire purchases, buy now pay later, overdrafts and other loans

  • 25 branches nationwide, plus online, anywhere in NZ

What is a debt consolidation loan?

A debt consolidation loan is a personal loan that pays off several debts at once and rolls them into a single loan — so instead of juggling repayments to different lenders on different days, you've got one fixed-interest loan and one payment to keep track of, weekly, fortnightly, or monthly.

It's commonly used to bring together things like credit cards, store cards, hire purchases, buy now pay later balances, overdrafts, and other personal loans.

Depending on the interest rates you're currently paying across those debts, consolidating may mean a lower overall rate and a clearer finish line — though that depends on your individual situation, so it's always worth running your own numbers rather than assuming it automatically costs less (more on that in the FAQs below).

Rates & fees at a glance

Loan establishment fee

$100–$220, depending on amount borrowed

Administration fee

$3 per instalment

Security registration fee (secured loans)

$8.05

Default interest rate

10% p.a. above your normal rate (loans written before 1 March 2026) / 5% p.a. (loans written after 1 March 2026). Maximum annual interest rate charged: 39.95%

Full fee schedule and loan example further down this page.

Secured or unsecured?

We offer two types of debt consolidation loans: secured and unsecured.  A secured personal loan is one where you can provide us with a charge over one or more of your possessions as security.

An unsecured personal loan is one where you do not provide us with a charge over one or more of your possessions as security.​

Available security may affect how much you can borrow, and the interest rates you are charged. When you use security on a loan you are in effect guaranteeing that loan with those possessions.

The benefits of consolidating debt

Consolidating your debts into one loan can have several benefits, including:

  • Easier to manage – With our debt consolidation loan, you’ll only have to make one payment each month, fortnight, or week instead of multiple payments to multiple lenders. This makes it much easier for you to manage your payments and stay on top of your debt.
  • Lower regular payments – Debt consolidations are often spread over a longer period, which can mean your regular payments are lower.
  • Improved credit score – Paying off your debt can help improve your credit score, which can open up more financial opportunities for you in the future.
  • Reduced interest rates – If you have several high-interest loans, a debt consolidation loan may provide the opportunity to reduce your overall interest rate by consolidating all your loans with a single provider at a lower rate.

Concerned a bad credit score or past finance may affect your application?

If you're wondering whether debt consolidation is even on the table when your credit history isn't perfect, you're not alone — and yes, it's worth asking about. Things don't always go to plan, and that's nothing to be ashamed of. It's exactly why we're here.

Defaults, judgments, or fines on your file? None of that is an automatic no with us. As a responsible lender, we take the time to understand your unique situation — your income, your circumstances, and what's changed since — before making a decision that's both responsible and fair. It doesn't mean every application gets approved. It does mean your credit file isn't the whole story, and we'll always look at the full picture before we say no.

Our knowledgeable, friendly team will walk you through your options and help you understand exactly what you're signing up for — no surprises, no fine print you haven't had explained. If it'd help, we can sit down and work through a household budget with you too, so you know your new repayment fits comfortably alongside everything else. Just make sure you keep those payments on time once you're set up, so you don't end up with late fees or a higher rate eating into the fresh start you're after.

Find out more about our bad credit loans

Check your eligibility

To apply for an Instant Finance debt consolidation loan, you'll generally need to:

  • Be aged 18 or over and living in New Zealand

  • Have a regular source of income — we'll ask for your last 3 months of bank statements or payslips

  • Provide valid photo ID, like your NZ driver licence or passport

  • Have enough left over after your regular costs to comfortably manage the new repayment — this is what we look at first, not just a number on a credit file

Worried a default or judgment on your file rules you out? It doesn't automatically — see above.

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FAQs

Will consolidating my debt save me money in NZ?

It depends on what you're currently paying. If your existing debts carry higher interest rates than the rate you're offered on a consolidation loan, you could end up paying less overall — but if your loan term is a lot longer than your current debts, you might pay more in total interest even at a lower rate, just spread over more time. It's worth running your actual numbers through our loan calculator before deciding, rather than assuming consolidation automatically costs less.

Are debt consolidation loans available to people with imperfect credit?

Yes, they can be. We don't rely on your credit score alone to make a decision — we look at your income, your current situation, and your ability to manage the new repayment. A less-than-perfect credit history doesn't rule you out, though approval always depends on your individual circumstances and our responsible lending obligations.

Can I consolidate debt if I have defaults or judgments on my file?

Having defaults or judgments on your credit file may not be an automatic no. We take the time to understand your full situation — including what's changed since those defaults or judgments were recorded — before making a decision. It doesn't guarantee approval, but it doesn't rule you out either.

How do I consolidate credit card debt with a personal loan?

You apply for a debt consolidation loan for an amount that covers your credit card balance (and any other debts you're bringing together), and once approved and accepted, we either pay your credit card provider directly or pay the funds to you to settle it yourself. From there, you're making one repayment to us instead of your card repayment and any others you've combined.

What should I consider before taking out a debt consolidation loan?

A few things worth thinking through whether your new loan term is longer than your current debts (which could mean more total interest even at a lower rate), that there are fees involved just like any loan, and that a new loan application and closing old accounts can have a short-term dip on your credit score before it improves.

If you're behind on essentials rather than just juggling multiple debts, it's worth talking to us first — we can help you figure out if consolidation is the right move, or whether something else makes more sense for your situation.

Do debt consolidation loans hurt your credit score?

There can be a short-term impact, mainly from the credit check when you apply and from closing old accounts. Over time, making consistent, on-time repayments on a single consolidated loan can help your credit score recover and improve.

Apply for a personal loan to consolidate your debts today

  1. Use our handy repayment calculator to work out what you think you may want to borrow and see what your repayment amounts might be.

  2. The fastest way to apply for your Debt Consolidation loan online is through our loan application form. We ask for information like how much you need, what is the loan for, how can we contact you, where you live and how you earn your income.

  3. As soon as we receive your loan application, we start working on how we can help make your loan possible.

  4. Our friendly team will get in touch with you to discuss your application, request any further information that we might need and finally your loan options

Once approved, Instant Finance will either provide you with the funds to pay off your debts, or we will pay them directly for you - leaving you with the one simple loan with Instant Finance

Ready to Apply?

Apply Now

Loan terms

Our minimum loan term is 3 months, and our maximum loan period is typically 7 years.

Interest rates

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.

Default interest rate

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%

Loan fees

Some or all of the following fees are payable at loan commencement, these may be added to the amount you borrow:
Loan establishment fee
A one-off set up fee for your loan.

From $100 to $220 depending on amount of new money borrowed.

Digital ID Verification Fee
A per verification charge through a 3rd party where we meet face to face

$2.55 per person

Digital & Biometric ID Verification Fee
A per verification charge through a 3rd party where the loan is transacted remotely.

$7.70 per person

Security Registration fees
For secured loans where we register an interest in Personal Property items provided as security

$8.05

Administration Fee
A fee payable on each instalment due date of your loan

$3 (per instalment)

Credit and Default fees
Default or other fees that can arise during the course of a loan are shown in our full fee schedule.

Loan Example:

The amount repayable of your loan is made up of your interest rate, plus fees. For example, if borrowing $10,000 repayable over 3 years at an interest rate of 29.95% you would be required to make 156 weekly instalments of $102.54. This repayment is made up of interest, an establishment fee of $220, an ID verification fee of $7.70 and an administration fee of $3.00 per instalment.
Total interest would be $5,300.54 with total fees of $695.7 making the total payable over the full term $15,996.24.