2FA (Two-Factor) - Paying Overseas for 6 weeks

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openmedia

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#3462218 17-Feb-2026 13:19

Westpac and Kiwibank have both tried to send me 2FA SMS while I'm roaming. Using SMS for 2FA is a really bad idea.

I love the way Wise works and ASB has really improved their app.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

SpartanVXL

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#3462225 17-Feb-2026 13:31

openmedia:

Westpac and Kiwibank have both tried to send me 2FA SMS while I'm roaming. Using SMS for 2FA is a really bad idea.

I love the way Wise works and ASB has really improved their app.

Sorry I don’t understand this or the OP. Are we talking online purchases? I have never needed to 2FA for a PoS sale with card and PIN.

For Europe I’m pretty sure chip and PIN or paywave will suffice and it will not need 2FA. Apple/Google pay too won’t need 2FA either.

wellygary

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#3462230 17-Feb-2026 13:45

SpartanVXL:

Sorry I don’t understand this or the OP. Are we talking online purchases? I have never needed to 2FA for a PoS sale with card and PIN.

For Europe I’m pretty sure chip and PIN or paywave will suffice and it will not need 2FA. Apple/Google pay too won’t need 2FA either.

I'm presuming its for online purchases,

Everything in person in UK/Europe is paywave (no charges) - they have no local rails so its the default payment gateway...

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/feb/16/uk-bank-bosses-plan-visa-mastercard-alternative

KiwiSurfer

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#3462233 17-Feb-2026 14:06

SpartanVXL:

openmedia:

Westpac and Kiwibank have both tried to send me 2FA SMS while I'm roaming. Using SMS for 2FA is a really bad idea.

I love the way Wise works and ASB has really improved their app.

Sorry I don’t understand this or the OP. Are we talking online purchases? I have never needed to 2FA for a PoS sale with card and PIN.

For Europe I’m pretty sure chip and PIN or paywave will suffice and it will not need 2FA. Apple/Google pay too won’t need 2FA either.

For Kiwibank they use SMS 2FA for some online banking functions. For example adding a new payee or paying someone you haven't paid before etc requires SMS 2FA to approve. Online purchases also may require SMS 2FA if the site participates with the Visa/Mastercard system for online 2FA (can't remember the name of these right now -- something like SecureCode?). For example maybe you book a train ticket online or through an app -- given it is out of the ordinary Visa/Mastercard may redirect you to Kiwibank where you'll need to enter a SMS 2FA code. It may be things like this the OP is concerned about.

openmedia

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#3462278 17-Feb-2026 17:00

wellygary:

SpartanVXL:

Sorry I don’t understand this or the OP. Are we talking online purchases? I have never needed to 2FA for a PoS sale with card and PIN.

For Europe I’m pretty sure chip and PIN or paywave will suffice and it will not need 2FA. Apple/Google pay too won’t need 2FA either.

I'm presuming its for online purchases,

Everything in person in UK/Europe is paywave (no charges) - they have no local rails so its the default payment gateway...

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/feb/16/uk-bank-bosses-plan-visa-mastercard-alternative

Depends where you are. Last time I was over a lot of smaller retailers, especially take away and cafes had switched back to cash only.

I also had a bunch of places where it was Chip + PIN - no paywave.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

richms

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#3462384 17-Feb-2026 21:45

wellygary:

I'm presuming its for online purchases,

Everything in person in UK/Europe is paywave (no charges) - they have no local rails so its the default payment gateway...

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/feb/16/uk-bank-bosses-plan-visa-mastercard-alternative

Hope the local banks jump in on this rather than trying to reinvent the wheel, as the current reliance on 2 US based processors for online purchases is not idea.

Then again, why not china unionpay or JCB from a local bank if they will allow it?

Richard rich.ms

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