New Zealand's banks sign up to leave nobody without a bank account

A bank account sounds basic — until you do not have one, and employment, government services and online life all sit behind it. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has brought public agencies and private firms together to sign a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at supporting access to basic transaction services for everyone. The framework asks participating organisations to understand the barriers some people face, consider practical ways to lower them, and report on progress so results can be measured over time. 'Without access to transaction services people can be excluded from employment, government services, digital commerce and broader financial opportunities,' said Assistant Governor Angus McGregor. 'This MoU signals a commitment from public sector agencies and industry to reduce financial exclusion in New Zealand.' The commitments are voluntary and non-binding — a shared starting line rather than a finish — with each participant writing its own implementation plan.

SDG 10 · Reduced inequalities — Mechanism: institutional program