It was great to sit down with Rob to explain why we are The Stranger Things of finance.

For us, losing customers is a success- as people will be Out of Debt, and busy Getting on With Life.

It has been tricky trying to explain why we're not focussed on being the biggest, especially when speaking to potential investors and funders. We're so glad we persisted though. We are surrounded by people equally as motivated to increase financial inclusion, choice, and the playbook of debt and lending not just for Aotearoa, but for all.

Lockley also believes too many finance companies do not treat borrowers with the respect they deserve.

“I think the industry operates like a parent with a child, and the customers have to be subservient to the people with the money,” Lockley says.

“We’re trying to create an adult to adult relationship similar to Ngā Tangata Microfinance,” she says.

Ngā Tangata Microfinance is a not-for profit lender, which makes no interest loans, but specialises in helping low-income people, while Money Sweetspot has no income caps.

Like Good Shepherd, Money Sweetspot has funding from Bank of New Zealand’s (BNZ) for-good finance programme to help it grow.

Lockley was inspired to found Money Sweetspot by a simple philosophy.

“I believe bad things happen to good people,” she says. People who had debt troubles were “othered”, blamed for their predicament, instead of offered a fair way forward.

She had found herself hearing people’s stories while working as a finance company executive, and saw parts of her own family story, which started when her dad’s company went bust, reflected in the eyes of these customers.

Chapman says: “This is our legacy. If I can look back in 30 years’ time, and say I was involved with this. That’s really important to me.

If you'd like to know more, do reach out! We are one small part of an eco-system of good.