ANZ customers can start using Google’s Android Pay right now. Go!
ANZ has just given customers a new reason to replace plastic credit and debit cards with its new digital wallet dubbed Android Pay. The contactless payment app works similarly to Apple Pay which the big four bank adopted in May.
“Being the first major bank in Australia able to offer Android Pay is another important milestone for ANZ as we work to build the best digital bank for our customers,” said ANZ CEO Shayne Elliott.
Android Pay is Google owned and a classic rival to the iPhone’s equivalent, allowing users to make payments at compatible merchant terminals with their phones in place of plastic.
"We're excited to bring the simplicity and security of mobile payments to ANZ customers with Android Pay,” said a senior director of Google, Pali Bhat.
“Using Android Pay is more secure – and much faster – than rummaging through your wallet for a plastic card. Starting today, people will be able to use their Android device to pay at almost 800,000 contactless payment terminals in Australia."
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ANZ customers are only eligible to use the app if they have an Android device with the “KitKat” operating system or later. What makes these phone payments possible is the Near Field Communication technology located in compatible Android phone and tablet chips.
Android Pay uses “tokenisation security”, meaning customer card details are never shared with the merchant terminal directly. This makes purchases even safer than traditional credit and debit card transactions.
How to use Android Pay
1. Download the app and sync your eligible cards to it (such as AMEX and MasterCard).
2. To make a purchase, wake up your phone and hold it near a compatible merchant terminal. Voila, your payment is complete!
While ANZ is the first big four bank to sign up for Android Pay, more than 20 Australian banks are participating too including American Express, Bank Australia, Bank of Sydney and People’s Choice Credit Union. All are listed in this Android blog, including those joining soon.
CEO of People’s Choice, Steve Laidlaw, is glad members will be among the first to use Android Pay in Australia.
“We have made a range of improvements to our digital banking and payments services over the past few years, and we are continuing to keep our members at the forefront of these technologies in Australia,” he said.
Want to learn more about contactless payments? Check out this guide to payWave and PayPass.