Pepper Money

Office address: Level 1/10 College Hill, Freemans Bay, Auckland 1011
Website: peppermoney.co.nz
Year established: 2000
Company type: financial services
Employees: 2,000+ (worldwide)
Expertise: home loans, alternative documentation lending, self-employed lending, credit-impaired borrowers, debt consolidation, property investment finance, loan servicing
Parent company: Pepper Global
Key people: Campbell Smith (country head), Lauren Midgley (BDM), Robert Key (relationship manager), Monika Nadan (senior credit assessor), Siobhan Williams (head of mortgages)
Financing status: corporate-backed or acquired

Pepper Money is a non-bank lender in New Zealand providing home loans for a range of borrowers. The company considers alternative documentation and funds loans through professional investors. It has operated locally for over two decades and is not a deposit-taking institution.

History of Pepper Money

Pepper Money was established in 2000 to provide home loans for people who did not meet traditional bank criteria. The company became one of the largest non-bank lenders in Australia and entered the New Zealand mortgage market in 2019. In December 2023, Pepper Money expanded its New Zealand presence by acquiring HSBC’s local mortgage portfolio.

Growth and New Zealand expansion

The acquisition of the HSBC portfolio increased Pepper Money’s scale and commitment in the New Zealand market.

The company operates through a network of brokers and applies flexible credit assessment to a broad range of borrowers. Pepper Money’s New Zealand business focuses on offering alternative lending options to customers who may not qualify with mainstream lenders.

Brand and customer focus

In 2025, Pepper Money updated its brand to emphasise a helpful and approachable service. The company aims to keep lending processes personal and straightforward. The company’s approach is to provide solutions for borrowers outside standard lending criteria.

Pepper Money products and services

Pepper Money offers a range of home loan solutions designed for borrowers with different financial backgrounds. The company considers more than just credit scores and aims to provide options for a variety of situations. Key home loan offerings include:

• prime home loans: for borrowers with strong credit and standard financial documentation
• near prime home loans: for those needing a flexible approach due to minor credit issues or non-standard situations
• specialist home loans: for applicants with recent credit events or unique financial challenges
• first home buyer loans: for people entering the property market, including those with gifted deposits or limited credit history
• investment property loans: for investors, including those with non-traditional income or previous credit issues
• refinance loans: for customers seeking to switch lenders, consolidate debt or unlock equity for other needs
• self-employed loans: for business owners or self-employed individuals, with options for alternative income verification

These products are structured to support a broad range of property goals and financial circumstances. Pepper Money’s approach is designed to help borrowers who may not meet traditional lending criteria. The company aims to provide accessible home loan options for New Zealanders in a changing market.

Company culture and values

Pepper Money promotes a can-do culture that encourages innovation and supports a balanced, down-to-earth work environment. The company recognises employee contributions and offers a variety of benefits to support staff wellbeing and growth. These include:

• employee recognition and rewards: regular recognition programs and referral bonuses for staff contributions
• flexible working and leave: options for flexible work, purchase leave, paid parental and grandparent’s leave
• health and wellbeing: access to a free gym, corporate health insurance, wellbeing initiatives and an employee assistance program
• financial benefits: staff loan rates, novated leasing, superannuation on unpaid parental leave and employee discounts
• career development: coaching, ongoing training and support for professional growth
• community and volunteering: paid volunteer leave and opportunities to participate in community programs

Pepper Money marked its twenty-first year by planting seven hectares of forest in New Zealand, Australia and the Philippines. The initiative began with trees on Aotea, Great Barrier Island, near Auckland. Ongoing support includes funding a seedling nursery for future reforestation projects.

About CEO Campbell Smith and key people

Campbell Smith is the current country head of Pepper Money New Zealand and serves as a senior executive and director. He was previously country manager at LeasePlan and sat on the executive committee of the Financial Services Federation. Campbell holds a Harvard Business School PLD.

The Pepper Money New Zealand team includes experienced leaders and specialists who support customers and broker partners across the business:

• Lauren Midgley leads as business development manager, skilled in building broker partnerships and driving sales team performance
• Robert Key works as relationship manager, bringing adviser support and budgeting experience from Resimac and Henderson Budget Service
• Monika Nadan serves as senior credit assessor, with over twenty years in banking and deep expertise in credit analysis
• Siobhan Williams heads mortgages, known for alternative lending knowledge and leading a retail sales team focused on real-life solutions

These key people help deliver flexible lending options and support for a wide range of borrowers. Pepper Money funds its loans through professional investors, not customer deposits, setting it apart from traditional banks.

The future at Pepper Money

In 2025, Pepper Money launched the Pepper Product Selector tool to speed up mortgage approvals for non-bank lenders. Advisers can use this tool to match clients with home loans and get indicative offers within minutes. This technology helped set a faster pace for lending in New Zealand, making speed and flexibility a clear advantage.

The firm sponsored the ‘Adviser of the Year – Residential’ award at the 2025 New Zealand Mortgage Awards. Lauren Midgley from Pepper Money New Zealand received an excellence award for Best Non-Bank BDM. It was also recognised as an excellence awardee for Non-Bank Lender of the Year. These achievements highlight the company’s ongoing involvement and support in the mortgage industry.