Hatch Invest

Hatch Invest: investing in US markets from New Zealand

Hatch Invest is a digital investment platform based in Wellington, New Zealand, that gives New Zealand residents access to US stock markets. The company has been operating since 2018 and, according to its data, New Zealand investors have deposited more than NZD 2.1 billion through the platform since it was founded. Its offering focuses on buying individual shares and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in US companies, with a flat, transparent fee structure.

Fee model and how it works

The platform charges a flat USD 3 fee per buy or sell order of up to 300 shares; above that amount, the cost is 1 cent per share. For kids' accounts, the fee drops to 50 cents. The auto-invest service has a 1% cap and lets you invest from USD 1, with no monthly minimum. The Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIP) has no brokerage cost. Currency exchange (NZD to USD and vice versa) carries a 0.5% fee, included in the estimated exchange rate, and there are special rates for deposits over USD 100,000. The company charges no commission on sells, in line with its policy that the profit is the investor's.

Account types and requirements

Hatch offers adult accounts, kids' accounts (Hatch Kids) and family trust accounts. Anyone over 18 can open their own account and verify online with a passport from any country or a New Zealand driver's licence. Parents or guardians can open accounts for minors through their own account by providing the birth certificate or guardianship order. Family trusts are also accepted using specific forms. Signing up is free and only requires an email address and a password; identity verification takes about three minutes.

Deposits, withdrawals and support

Deposits are made by online banking in New Zealand dollars to a local Hatch bank account, using a unique reference code. If the deposit is made before 2 p.m. on a business day, the funds are usually available the next morning, when the US markets open. Withdrawals can be requested at any time, after selling the shares, and are automatically converted to NZD. The company collects a bank statement as a security check for each destination account. The customer support team, based in Wellington, offers support by phone, email and live chat; according to the company, it has a customer satisfaction rate above 90%.

Educational resources and tools

The platform gives users access to learning materials such as LearnHub, with articles on key investing concepts; the free Getting Started course, which runs for ten days at ten minutes a day and is aimed at beginners; and the The Fry up section, with news on markets and global trends. It also publishes articles on topics such as choosing your first shares, compound interest and day trading. According to the company's data, more than 78,000 readers subscribe to its investment newsletter.

Corporate backing and activity data

Hatch is backed by FNZ, a global wealth management platform serving 24 million users, and by New Zealand investment and advisory group Jarden. Among its key figures, the company reports that it has paid NZD 48 million in dividends to its investors and that 9% of its customers are minors. Its leadership team includes Waimarie Marks as chief executive officer, Jakub Chodounský as cofounder and chief technology officer, Aaron McGrath as head of service delivery and Henry Jones as head of product and design.

Location and contact

Phone: 3124357