BNZ first NZ bank to launch Android app

BNZ says it has become the first New Zealand bank to launch an Android internet banking app.

The Android application allows identical functionality to BNZ’s iPhone app launched in July, allowing users to make transfers to other BNZ accounts, same day payments and view 30 day transaction history, among other features.

BNZ said it was the first New Zealand bank to launch an internet banking app designed specifically for Android users, and one of the first banks in Australasia to build a native Android internet banking app.

Head of BNZ online Rogan Clarke said the launch of an iPhone-only app had neglected a large proportion of its customer base using Android smart devices, and that an Android-specific app was something the bank had been contemplating.

BNZ’s website saw 1313% growth in visits from Android devices in the 12 months to June 2011, with about 10,000 visits over one month, the bank said.

Globally, more than 100 million Android powered devices were in use according to Google’s blog in May, with Google vice president of engineering Andy Rubin tweeting in June that 500,000 were activated daily.

Mr Clarke said the app had been in development for about eight weeks, with the first live transaction performed yesterday.

He said there had been initial issues with security involving malware on the Android marketplace but that BNZ was now confident the application’s security wrapping was the same as that of other apps on offer. 

This security wrapping includes a two-step authentication process involving a username and password, and a Netcard, a physical card with a battleship-type code set-up, or a “something you know, something you have” approach, Mr Clarke said.

The bank also has a service manager who monitors the app online and would alert Google if fake BNZ apps were found, he said.

Fake internet banking apps had occurred in the Australian market, Mr Clarke said.

The app runs on Android version 2.1 and higher, and works well on both tablets and phones, the bank said. 

BNZ project manager www, mobile and online Paul Bartlett said the bank was working on building other features for the app including being able to view account details such as credit card interest rates and next repayments.

RAW STATS FROM BNZ:

• 60,000 logins in 4 weeks on using iPhone app
• 39% of BNZ mobile banking users in Auckland, 17% in Wellington, 13% in Canterbury, 6.8% in Waikato, 5.7% in Otago
• 40% of BNZ mobile banking users are between 27 and 39 years old, 32% between 18 and 26 years old, 20% between 40 and 55 years old and 3% between 56 and 63 years old.
• 500,000 Android devices activated globally daily, 100 million activated Android devices, 200,000 Android apps available, free and paid.
• 1313% growth in Android visits to bnz.co.nz in 12 months