Aussie banks adopt Google technology

ANZ, ING Direct and Bendigo Bank recently announced they have partnered with the search engine giant to bring Android Pay to Australia in mid-2016 – a mobile payment platform for Android phones that enables users to make quick and secure purchases, and also stores gift cards, loyalty cards and special offers.

Australians will be able to use Android Pay anywhere where contactless payments are accepted by simply unlocking their phone and placing it near a merchant’s contactless terminal.

Android Pay is also supported by industry-standard tokenisation, which means a customer’s real credit or debit card is not sent with their payment. Instead, a virtual account number will be used, providing an extra layer of security.

An announcement by Google earlier this week said Australia will be the first country outside of the US to receive Android Pay.

ANZ’s managing director of products, Matt Boss, said Android Pay is an important milestone in the evolution of the mobile payments landscape, and Google’s decision to make Australia the first market after the US to implement it demonstrates how quickly the country adopts new technologies.

“Android Pay will provide our customers with a quick and secure way to make payments with their smartphone, and we think it will have strong uptake given the ability to incorporate additional features such as gift and loyalty cards,” he said.

Lisa Claes, executive director of customer delivery at ING Direct, said Android Pay is a natural progression for the non-major bank.

“Our focus is very much on supporting our customers to have the freedom to manage their money and spending in line their individual needs and preferences by offering a variety of payment choices in a secure and safe environment,” she said.

“Mobile payments will increasingly put customers in the driving seat with more choice and control than ever before.”

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank’s chief customer officer, Marnie Barker, said Android Pay provides the bank’s customers with even greater choice and flexibility in managing their financial life.

“It’s a partnering mindset that will allow us to remain competitive and relevant to our customers, and being receptive to adopting emerging technologies in an ever-changing environment will ensure we fulfil our vision of being Australia’s most customer-connected bank,” she said.

[Related: Big growth forecast for smartwatch banking]