BNZ is the first bank to launch Android Pay to New Zealand

To celebrate the launch of Android Pay in New Zealand, BNZ is recruiting New Zealanders around the country to buy gifts for the Salvation Army’s annual Christmas Appeal.

The initiative, called BNZ Android Pay Back, will arm New Zealanders 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.

David Bullock, director of products and technology at BNZ, says the bank is proud to be the first to bring Android Pay to New Zealanders. The technology will allow anyone with an NFC-enabled Android device (running KitKat 4.4 or higher) to pay in store with a tap of their phone.

“We see clear benefits in bringing Android Pay to New Zealand for our customers. For many, this Christmas will bring the first moment they can shop without needing to use their wallet, and as the uptake in contactless payments increase there will be even more places to pay with just a tap of your phone. It’s about simplicity and convenience in payment options for your everyday banking.

“At BNZ, we’re pleased to have negotiated this technology-first for our customers and look forward to adding to this technology and delivering other digital firsts in the future,” says Bullock.

BNZ has launched the contactless payment solution with Google^TM, offering BNZ Flexi Debit Visa cardholders the first chance to use Android Pay in New Zealand. BNZ Android Pay allows anyone with an Android phone (KitKat 4+) enabled with Near Field Communication (NFC) to pay in store by tapping their phone on a contactless-enabled EFTPOS machine.  

“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 to the EFTPOS terminal,” says Bullock. 

To sign up people simply need to install the Android Pay app on their phone and add their BNZ Visa Flexi Debit card by taking a photo of it. They need to have the BNZ Mobile Banking app loaded on their phone. 

Security is paramount to BNZ and Google. Each transaction creates a virtual card that’s used to make the payment, so that your bank details aren’t involved. Android Pay will not copy or emulate the signal used when you make a contactless payment with your BNZ Flexi Debit Visa card.

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

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.