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News

  • BNZ app 'turns mobile into a security device'

    Bank of New Zealand has incorporated secure two factor authentication into mobile phone apps for its internet banking customers, effectively cutting one step required to log on to its mobile banking.

  • BNZ picked for cloud-capable SQL Server trial

    Microsoft has chosen the BNZ bank as one of 70 organisations worldwide to participate in the Rapid Deployment Programme (RDP) for the latest, cloud-capable, version of its SQL Server, code-named Denali.

  • BNZ launches first banking app for Android in New Zealand

    With close to 10,000 hits per month coming into its mobile website from Android users, BNZ has just announced the launch of its native Android application for customers.The application, available now from the Android market, allows customers to do the same operations they can do on the mobile website and the existent iPhone app, launched last month. Users can check their balance, view transactions history, transfer money and pay bills. There is also a store and ATM finder, using the GPS capabilities of the Android smartphone.Rogan Clarke, head of BNZ online, says the company realised they were neglecting a large portion of their customers when they released their iPhone application. "This is our attempt to get ahead of the curve," says Clarke, adding that "Android has gotten to a level where we just can't ignore it anymore". Clarke also says the number of Android users "is reasonably close to iPhone numbers" and the uptake is a lot faster.Since its launch last month, the BNZ iPhone app has been downloaded more than 15,000 times. "We knew from the outset that Android users deserved the same experience and when you take into account the exponential growth the platform is experiencing, it was even more important for us to get this app out there," says Clarke. According to Paul Bartlett, BNZ's project manager for www, mobile and online, the company has recorded a "1313 percent increase in Android visitors to the website" in the 12 months to June 2011. Clarke says BNZ is "confident that the solution has the same level of security as the iPhone app", as it requires the same level of authentication required by the iPhone app and the mobile website."Security and making sure the user experience was solid from the outset were our top priorities. You can't have one without the other in our view, so our in-house development team in Wellington have put in the hard yards over many months to ensure these three BNZ Mobile services are world class. BNZ Mobile offers all the security of our main internet banking website along with a silky smooth, mobile experience," adds Clarke.The launch of the app means that BNZ has become the first New Zealand bank to launch an internet banking application for Android smartphones (and one of the first in Australasia to build its own native Android app). Clarke says the company is well aware of the fact that it will not be long before other New Zealand banks launch their own Android apps as well.

  • Costs to dip as banks standardise on XML

    Firms could save time and money as banks move to adopt a standardised format for communicating with businesses' accounting software.
    XML is a widely used method for labelling data so it can be easily recognised by different software programs. HSBC has implemented XML file exchanges for financial data in what it says is a first for New Zealand.
    Spokeswoman Cath Henry says some clients are now using the format, which lets them download statements into their systems and submit payment instructions to the bank.
    Banks use a range of messaging formats and firms sometimes have to tweak their systems to communicate easily with those used by banks, she says. "This single universal standard is saving corporates a lot of money and makes life easier for them in terms of not having to use the alternative proprietary formats with each of their banking relationships."
    BNZ spokeswoman Erica Lloyd says it is about to launch a "processing channel" for business clients that will let them use XML to access account information and facilitate payments.
    ASB chief operations officer Russell Jones says it tailors XML file format support for business customers, "depending on their business needs and commercial constraints".
    Computer Society chief executive Paul Matthews says most data transfers between computer programs today are done using an XML format.
    The move by banks to pick up the format will not revolutionise the way businesses interact with banks, but will make it easier for software developers building accounting packages, he says.
    "It is quite important from a software perspective because in the current situation banks sometimes do use different formats. For example, the Quicken Interchange Format is the most common one, but the problem with that is some banks use four digits for the year, others use two and some banks have the month and the date around in the American style."
    Most banks support four or five different formats for exchanging data, and most of the main business software programs should support XML or be close to doing so, he says.
    Deloitte partner Faris Azimullah says banks will be able to easily assess their business activities, such as credit lending and exposure, if they know exactly what data firms have supplied them with.
    Businesses will benefit more from the move because they will no longer have to clarify with banks what data they have sent through.
    "Once you've cracked the nut in terms of what the bank wants and established and tagged that data ... you can share that information by pressing a button."

  • BNZ eyes voice prints for customer ID

    The BNZ bank is looking at implementing a speech-driven navigation system and voice-print customer identifier developed by its parent the National Australia Bank, according to NAB developer Sam Jackel.

  • BNZ exec to become NAB CIO

    The BNZ’s general manager of banking delivery services, Adam Bennett, will next month step up to the role of CIO at the bank’s Australian parent, National Australia Bank.

  • BNZ examines NAB’s online innovations

    The BNZ Bank may make use of customer service innovations from its Australian counterpart, the National Australia Bank, and discussed at the recent Genesys Laboratories conference in Melbourne, says a BNZ spokesman.

  • Banks respond to new online code

    BNZ general manager, strategy and marketing, Blair Vernon says “no material changes” will be made to the bank’s terms and conditions as a result of the redrafted banking code.

  • BNZ ready to retire 500 servers

    Virtualisation is the name of the game for the Bank of New Zealand, which expects to phase out around 500 servers after purchasing two high-end Z series computers from IBM.

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