CBA extends mobile payment options
(18 September 2017 – Australia) Commonwealth Bank (CBA) has announced a deal with technology giant Google to offer Android Pay, while also revealing a mobile payment partnership with Garmin.
CBA customer will be able to use Android Pay via their Android mobile devices “before the end of the year”, with Garmin Pay through that company’s new smartwatches in October.
The move follows unsuccessful attempts by major banks, excluding ANZ, to work together to access Apple iPhone near-field communication (NFC) chips.
Among the major lenders, ANZ has been first mover across both Apple and Android payments, becoming the first bank to support Android Pay in July last year and Apple Pay in 2015.
It was quickly followed by Cuscal, Macquarie Bank, MyState and Teachers Mutual Bank, and then by Westpac.
Android Pay now reaches to "over 50" financial institutions, including Macquarie and Cuscal’s network, and can be used at about 800,000 locations nationally.
Speaking of the launch, CBA’s General Manager, Michael Baumann said, “In June this year we saw weekly transactions across the CommBank app hit A$6.1 billion so we know customers love using their phones to make payments and do their banking.
“By offering customers the ability to pay with Android Pay and with their Garmin smartwatches we are combining choice and convenience.”
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