Bank Payments & Cards

• You can pay into Kivvo using a bank account or a card. Bank payments are cheaper for us, so they're cheaper for you. Card payments are faster to set up.
• Bank payments use Stripe's BECS Direct Debit — a New Zealand bank-to-bank payment method.
• Card payments use Stripe — supporting Visa and Mastercard.
• Apple Pay and Google Pay are not currently supported. We may add them in the future.
• Kivvo doesn't store your full card details or bank account number. Stripe handles those.
• Kivvo doesn't take custody of your funds. Money moves through Stripe's framework.
• A contribution fee applies to each contribution, regardless of the payment method. See our Fees & Charges.

• You choose an amount and confirm a payment method.
• Kivvo initiates the payment through Stripe.
• Stripe collects the funds from your card or bank account.
• Kivvo records the contribution against your chosen goal.
• The contribution fee is deducted, and the remainder is applied to your goal.
• Your goal progress and contribution history update.

Kivvo never has access to your money in a way that would let us misuse it. Stripe is the licensed payment provider, and funds move through Stripe's framework under their terms.

Bank payments let you contribute directly from a New Zealand bank account using Stripe BECS Direct Debit.

BECS stands for Bulk Electronic Clearing System. It's the standard way New Zealand banks move money between accounts. When you set up a BECS Direct Debit through Stripe, you authorise Stripe to collect payments from your bank account on your behalf.

You're not giving Kivvo or Stripe your bank login. You're authorising a specific debit mandate through Stripe's secure flow.

• Go to the Bank & cards page in your account.
• Choose Link a bank account.
• Follow Stripe's authorisation flow.
• Confirm the bank account you want to authorise.
• Stripe will set up a mandate for future payments.

• Lower processing cost — bank payments are cheaper than card payments, which is why Kivvo doesn't add card surcharges on top of the standard fee.
• No card expiry — a bank mandate doesn't expire like a card does.
• Suited to recurring contributions — bank debits are a natural fit for scheduled contributions.
• No card details to update — if your card changes, you don't need to update it here.

• Slower setup — BECS authorisation isn't instant, and some banks take a day or two to verify.
• Slower to process — bank debits typically take longer to settle than card payments.
• Bank-dependent — the authorisation flow varies slightly depending on your bank.

You can remove a linked bank account from the Bank & cards page. When you remove it:

• Future contributions using that method won't be processed.
• Any scheduled contributions linked to it will need a new payment method.
• The mandate will be cancelled with Stripe.

Removing a bank mandate doesn't affect contributions that have already been processed.

Card payments let you contribute using a debit or credit card. Cards are processed by Stripe.

• Visa
• Mastercard

If your card isn't supported by Stripe for your region, it may not work in Kivvo.

Apple Pay and Google Pay are not currently supported on Kivvo. We may add them in the future, but they're not available right now.

If you use a mobile device and want to use a digital wallet, you'll need to use your card directly for the moment, or use bank payments.

• Go to the Bank & cards page in your account.
• Choose Add credit card or Add debit card.
• Enter your card details in Stripe's secure form.
• Confirm the card.

You can save cards for future use, or use a card for a single contribution without saving it. Saved cards can be removed at any time.

• Instant setup — cards are added and used immediately.
• Widely supported — most people have a card that works.
• Fast processing — card payments usually settle quickly.

• Cards expire — you'll need to update the card when it does, or scheduled contributions will fail.
• Cards can be declined — insufficient funds, fraud detection, or issuer rules can cause declines.
• Some banks block certain card types for recurring payments.
• Card fees are higher for Kivvo — which is one reason bank payments are encouraged for scheduled contributions.
• No digital wallet support — Apple Pay and Google Pay aren't available yet.

You can remove a saved card from the Bank & cards page. When you remove it:

• Future contributions using that card won't be processed.
• Any scheduled contributions linked to it will need a new payment method.
• The card will be removed from Stripe's saved payment methods.

Removing a card doesn't affect contributions that have already been processed.

Which payment method should you use?

There's no single right answer — it depends on your situation.

Many users use both — a bank mandate for scheduled contributions, and a card for one-off contributions.

A contribution fee applies to each contribution, regardless of payment method:

• Flat fee: NZD $2.00 per contribution
• Percentage fee: 8% of the contribution amount
• Maximum fee: NZD $15.00 per contribution

The fee is deducted from the contribution amount before the remainder is applied to your goal. The fee is the same whether you pay by bank or by card.

For a full breakdown, see our Fees & Charges.

Kivvo and Stripe split responsibility for payment data. Here's what each of us handles:

• The last four digits of a saved card
• The card brand (Visa, Mastercard, etc.)
• The expiry month and year of a saved card
• The identifier Stripe uses to reference a card or bank mandate
• Whether a payment method is active, expired, or removed

• Your full card number
• Your CVC (the three-digit code)
• Your full bank account number
• Your bank login credentials

Stripe stores the full details required to process payments securely. Stripe is PCI-DSS compliant — the industry standard for payment security. Their handling of your information is governed by their own privacy and security policies.

• Insufficient funds in your bank account or on your card
• Card declined by your bank's fraud detection
• Card expired since the last contribution
• Bank mandate cancelled or expired
• Issuer rules blocking the type of transaction
• Technical issue during processing

• Retries — for scheduled contributions, we may retry within the same week.
• Notifies you — you'll receive a notification letting you know the payment failed.
• Pauses the schedule — if contributions fail repeatedly, we may pause the affected schedule.
• Records the failure — in your contribution history.

• Check your payment method — is the card still valid? Is the bank mandate still active?
• Update the payment method if needed, on the Bank & cards page.
• Check your bank or card statement for the reason for the failure.
• Contact your bank if the failure isn't obvious.

A failed contribution doesn't automatically cancel your schedule — you'll usually have time to fix the payment method before the next scheduled contribution.

For more detail on how failures affect streaks and eligibility, see our Help with Payouts page.

Security of payments is a shared responsibility between Kivvo, Stripe, and you.

• We don't store your full card or bank account details.
• We use Stripe for all payment processing. Stripe is PCI-DSS compliant.
• We encrypt data in transit and at rest.
• We monitor for suspicious activity.

• Use a card or bank account you control. Don't use someone else's without their informed consent.
• Keep your card and bank details private. Never share them with someone claiming to be from Kivvo.
• Review your statements regularly. Report anything you don't recognise to your bank and to us.
• Report suspicious activity — see our Report Fraud page.

For more detail, see our Security page.

Can I change my payment method?

Yes — go to the Bank & cards page. You can add a new payment method, remove an old one, and update which payment method is used for each schedule.

Can I have multiple payment methods?

Yes. You can have both a bank mandate and one or more saved cards. You can choose which to use for each schedule or one-off contribution.

What happens if my card expires?

We'll notify you before a saved card expires. If the card isn't updated, scheduled contributions using it will fail.

What happens if I change banks?

You'll need to add a new bank mandate for your new bank account. The old mandate remains until you remove it, but it won't work for contributions from a closed account.

Can I use someone else's card?

No. You should only use payment methods that you control, or that you have explicit permission to use. Using someone else's payment method without their consent is a breach of our Acceptable Use Policy.

Can I use a prepaid card?

Some prepaid cards work with Kivvo. Some don't, because issuers may block certain types of transactions. If your prepaid card doesn't work, try another payment method.

Can I pay with Apple Pay or Google Pay?

Not yet. Apple Pay and Google Pay are not currently supported on Kivvo. We may add them in the future. For now, please use a card directly or use bank payments.

Why is bank payment slower than card?

BECS Direct Debit is a bank-to-bank system. Bank processing times are typically slower than card processing. It's normal for bank debits to take a day or two to settle.

Are there any fees for adding a payment method?

No. Adding a card or bank mandate is free. Fees only apply to contributions.

• Contribution Terms — how contributions work
• Fees & Charges — what Kivvo charges for
• Help with Payouts — how failed contributions affect streaks
• Security — how Kivvo approaches security
• Report Fraud — how to report suspected fraud
• Privacy Policy — how we handle your personal information
• Financial Services Disclosures — Kivvo's regulatory position

If you have a question about bank payments or cards that isn't answered here, please submit a support ticket via the Support page. We don't use email for support.

This page was last reviewed in October 2026.