BNZ feels New Zealand doesn't have a strong enough focus in the curriculum on financial literacy.

Chief executive Anthony Healy says banks can play a huge role in lifting financial literacy in the community.

He told the Trans-Tasman Business Circle that BNZ already runs a whole lot of workshops with youth around the country.

Mr Healy says banks should partner with community organisations particularly in more financially disadvantaged areas.

"Because often community groups, church groups, are the window in to those communities, so partnering with those groups to deliver the sort of financial literacy workshops and programmes we already have."