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After much speculation, Android Pay has today launched in New Zealand, just in time for Christmas. BNZ has launched the contactless payment solution with Google, offering BNZ Flexi Debit Visa cardholders the first chance to use Android Pay in New Zealand for their everyday banking.

BNZ Android Pay allows anyone with an NFC-enabled AndroidTM device (KitKat 4.4+) to pay in store with just a tap of their phone. They simply need to install the Android Pay app on their phone and add their BNZ Flexi Debit Visa card by taking a photo of it. They also need to have the BNZ Mobile Banking app loaded on their phone to verify their details.

David Bullock, director of products and technology at BNZ, said with half of the New Zealand market using Android phones, there are tens of thousands of BNZ customers with the right technology to start using BNZ Android Pay straight away.

“We see clear benefits in bringing Android Pay to New Zealand for BNZ customers - for many, it’ll be the first time they can shop without their wallet. As the uptake of contactless payments increases there will be more places to pay with just a tap of your phone. It’s about simplicity and convenience in payment options for your everyday banking”

“To celebrate the launch of BNZ Android Pay we’re working with our long-standing partner, The Salvation Army, to get people using our technology to bolster their annual Christmas gift appeal,” says Bullock.

The initiative, called BNZ Android Pay Back, will see a select group of people armed with the technology and funds to shop for the Salvation Army Christmas Appeal. BNZ Android Pay Back will result in approximately $10,000 worth of gifts going to the Salvation Army for them to give to children who may otherwise miss out at Christmas.

Android Pay enables easy and quick payment at point of sale. The application doesn’t need to be open to work and for purchases under $80 a PIN is not required.

“New Zealanders have a long standing affinity with electronic payments, as shown most recently by the swift uptake in contactless payments. BNZ Android Pay is just like tap and go payments with contactless cards, except you tap your phone on the payment terminal.

“At BNZ, we’re pleased to have negotiated this technology first for our customers and look forward to the roll out of this in the New Year. Partnering with Google opens doors to exciting opportunities in the future as technology, digital banking and customer needs continue to evolve,” says Bullock.

Security is paramount to BNZ and Google. When a BNZ customer adds their BNZ Flexi Debit Visa card to the Android Pay wallet, the 16 digit card account number is replaced with a unique digital identifier (a "token") that can be used for payment with a mobile. This token means that the cardholder's more sensitive account information is not exposed when a contactless payment is made.

 

Also, if people lose their phone they can easily use Android Device Manager to instantly lock it from anywhere, secure it with a new password, or wipe it clean of personal data.

Android Pay was first unveiled in May 2015 and has been available in the US since September last year. New Zealand is just the sixth country in the world to have Android Pay.

Android Pay is available at a range of retailers including, but not limited to The Warehouse, Noel Leeming, New World, PAK’nSAVE, Countdown, Animates, Paper Plus, Rebel Sport, Kathmandu, Farmers and JB Hi-Fi.