BNZ CEO admits ‘we didn’t get it right’ after sex toy brand Girls Get Off denied business account

BNZ CEO Dan Huggins (inset) has spoken about the bank denying Kiwi sexual wellness brand Girls Get Off a business account. Photo / Composite / Supplied / Carson Bluck

The Bank of New Zealand’s chief executive has admitted the decision to deny a business account to a women-owned sexual wellness brand was the wrong one and strayed into acting like the “moral police”.

Girls Get Off, a New Zealand-based sex toy and accessory brand, had its application for a business account denied last week as the nature of its operations were “outside of BNZ policy”.

“By saying that we can’t have bank accounts, it just further feeds that taboo and shame around the topic, when it’s really not something that should be that way. We’re talking about wellbeing,” co-founder Viv Conway told the Herald on Friday.

BNZ chief executive Dan Huggins has now publicly responded to the saga during Wednesday’s Finance and Expenditure Committee, as he was questioned about the Court of Appeal’s decision to allow BNZ to shut the accounts of the reclusive Christian sect, Gloriavale.

While addressing the decision, he touched on Girls Get Off and admitted it was the wrong call.

“I have seen the articles recently on Girls Get Off and that particular customer: we didn’t get it right with that customer. We certainly don’t see ourselves as the moral police, but with that particular customer, we’re talking with them,” Huggins said.

“We’ve got automated processes – online processes – to make it simple and easy to onboard customers. Sometimes we need to have a bigger conversation with them, but in that case, we didn’t get it right and sometimes we don’t.

“We are talking with that customer to try and bring them over to the BNZ – we certainly are pleased they want to join us and we would like them to – but we didn’t get it right and we need to fix it.”

BNZ chief executive Dan Huggins.

Girls Get Off co-founder Jo Cummins confirmed to the Herald that BNZ’s general manager had reached out to her on Tuesday to apologise, and that she was meeting with them on Friday to discuss what had occurred.

However, Cummins also admitted the business has since been in hot demand, with both Westpac and ANZ reaching out after the story was published. The former was a top contender, she said.

“We initially considered switching banks because of the great business banking relationships BNZ was known for – it came highly recommended,” Cummins told the Herald on Wednesday afternoon.

“However, since this story hit the media, Westpac has stepped up in a big way, addressing our needs and showing their support. Therefore, the urgency to make a switch isn’t as pressing anymore, so we’re happy with Westpac for now.”

Cummins noted she and Conway appreciated BNZ’s willingness to rectify the situation.

“We really appreciate BNZ’s response and their openness to work with us. At the end of the day, our mission is all about normalising conversations around female pleasure.

“Bringing attention to these kinds of issues and seeing positive discussions happen at higher levels is a step in the right direction, and we’re here for it.”

A BNZ spokesperson told the Herald on Wednesday it offered banking to a “diverse range of businesses, including those that offer sexual wellness services”.

“We’re really pleased to hear Girls Get Off were keen to bank with BNZ due to the great feedback they’d heard from friends about us. We’re keen to continue working with them and hope they do end up moving their business banking over to us,” the spokesperson added.

Girls Get Off co-founders Jo Cummins and Viv Conway. Photo / Jason Malouin

Huggins' comments came after Conway told the Herald she and Cummins had faced pushback from banks before, with Kiwibank also allegedly refusing to do business with Girls Get Off as it “didn’t want to deal with the nature” of its operations.

“When it comes to sexual wellbeing – and you’ve got the petrol station down the road selling cigarettes – I’d be very surprised to hear if they have any issues opening bank accounts. I think that’s where the frustration comes in for us,” Conway said.

“You get pushed back on simply having a bank account, when there’s other businesses that arguably perpetuate more harm in society ... I wonder if the TAB has trouble getting a bank account?” she laughed.

“I would argue that gambling does more harm to society than selling vibrators.”

A spokesperson for BNZ told the Herald last week that while it was unable to comment on a potential customer’s details without a privacy waiver, businesses that offered “adult services” were typically required to complete “additional checks”.

“In some cases, our digital onboarding process declines applications as the required checks haven’t been met and more information is required. In these instances, we are happy to continue to work with customers to complete the necessary requirements.”

Girls Get Off was co-founded by Conway and Cummins in March 2021. The online business, which went on to win People’s Choice at the Tauranga Business Awards that year, has since expanded its operations to Australia, with plans to continue growing overseas.

The brand has also built a successful presence on social media: at the time of writing, the Girls Get Off Instagram boasts a following of almost 120,000, while a private Facebook community has close to 40,000 members.