Banking Review

ANZ to launch mobile banking

ANZ is preparing to become the first major Australian bank to launch full-service mobile banking.

The bank has posted a “coming soon” promo on its site, including a demo of the service, which is currently being trialed by a select group of customers.

The service includes both a text and java option, enabling customers to view account balances and mini-statements as well as transfer funds and receive account alerts.

ANZ recently launched a similar offering in New Zealand with technology provided by mobile commerce company M-Com.

Citibank was the most recent institution to launch mobile banking in 2004, choosing to back the iMode network. At the time Citibank’s research showed millions of Australians were ready to embrace mobile banking technology.

Both Citibank and Telstra had hoped other banks would join the service to capitalise on this consumer interest. None did however and i-mode disappeared the same way as the over-hyped and under-utilised WAP services that went before it.

With improved technology and easier access to a more user-friendly service ANZ is no doubt hoping consumers will be more easily convinced this time around.