What is open banking?

Open banking is a new, safer way to let an app see your bank data — with your permission, and without handing that app your internet banking login. You decide what to share, it's read-only, and you can switch it off whenever you like.

It's what lets a tool like Ankobi pull your transactions straight into a Google Sheet, so you can budget and track spending without exporting CSVs or copying and pasting. Open banking is still new in New Zealand — here's how it works, and how Ankobi keeps you in control.

How Ankobi connects to your bank

Open banking is a regulated system, and in New Zealand it currently covers the five largest banks: ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Westpac and Kiwibank. If you're with one of these, you approve the connection by logging in with your bank directly — Ankobi never sees your password, and your bank confirms exactly what you've shared.

Plenty of other New Zealand banks work with Ankobi too. They're not part of the open banking system yet, so they connect through a secure, established provider instead — for some banks that means signing in through that provider to authorise access. Either way, Ankobi itself never sees or stores your login, only ever gets read-only access to the transactions you choose, and can be switched off at any time.

Setting up Ankobi

When you connect Ankobi:

• You choose which accounts to connect and authorise the connection.
• Ankobi gets read-only access to your transactions — just enough to import them into your Google Sheet.
• You choose how much history to bring in — start with the current month, or import more.
• You can disconnect whenever you like, and the connection stops immediately.

Is it safe?

• Ankobi never sees your login. Your bank credentials are never shared with Ankobi.
• Read-only. Ankobi can import transactions, but can never move money or make payments.
• You choose what to connect. Pick the accounts you want, and how much history to import.
• You can disconnect anytime. Revoke access whenever you like and the connection stops immediately.
• Encrypted. Your data is protected with industry-standard encryption in transit and at rest.
• A trusted connection. Ankobi connects through a secure, established connection provider — see our Integrations page.

What Ankobi can and can't see

Ankobi can:

• Import transaction details (date, amount, description, merchant, and category) for the accounts you connect.

Ankobi can't:

• See or store your internet banking login.
• Move money, make payments, or change anything in your accounts.
• Access accounts you didn't choose to connect.

You're always in control

You can revoke Ankobi's access at any time, and delete your data whenever you want. See how Ankobi connects on the Integrations page, and how your data is handled in our Privacy Policy.

Common questions

Do I have to share my internet banking password?
With the five banks that support open banking (ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Westpac and Kiwibank) you approve access by logging in with your bank directly, so no one but your bank sees your password. For other banks, you sign in through a secure, established connection provider. Either way, Ankobi itself never sees or stores your login.

Can Ankobi move my money or make payments?
No. Access is read-only — Ankobi imports transactions and nothing more.

Which banks can I use with Ankobi?
The five banks that support open banking — ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Westpac and Kiwibank — plus a range of other New Zealand banks that connect through a secure provider. Contact us if you want to confirm we support your bank.

How do I disconnect?
You can remove the connection from Ankobi at any time; access stops immediately.

Is my data sold?
No — your data isn't sold or rented for research or marketing. See our Privacy Policy for how your data is handled.