​ANZ brings consistency with revamped online banking platform

ANZ will this weekend be launching a revamped version of its internet banking platform, which has been designed to give customers a consistent user experience across desktop, tablet, and mobile.

The bank boasts that as part of the upgrade, it has introduced additional features including the ability for businesses to approve payments on-the-go using mobile internet banking; users being able choose either to view their accounts in a grid format or as a list; and a simplified navigation menu to help customers update contact details, pay a bill, or open a new account.

ANZ said it has also strengthened its internet banking platform with the introduction of ANZ Shield, which has been designed to authenticate transactions using a one-time security code when customers want to increase their pay anyone limits or reset their password.

In Australia, the company currently has 2.1 million internet banking customers.

Matthew Boss, ANZ managing director products and marketing, said the upgrade gives more options for customers looking to carry out their banking via digital channels.

"This upgrade complements our existing mobile banking application ANZ goMoney and allows customers to do more of their banking when and how they want with no instructions required," he said.

"Given smartphones are expected to account for 90 percent of all internet traffic by 2020, we're pleased to be able to provide our customers with internet banking that is quick and simple to use on any device."

Last September, ANZ reported that transactions made through its goMoney app reached AU$100 billion, with the ecommerce technology being adopted by more than 1.4 million users since its launch in 2010. ANZ also said at the time that goMoney user logins accounted for 62 percent of the bank's total customer digital login tally.

The internet banking upgrade forms part of the company's AU$1.5 billion five-year customer-facing Banking on Australia program, which was launched in October 2012 to transform the way the bank does business.

Since the end of last year, ANZ has been pushing to fast-track digital change when CEO Mike Smith outlined that it was a key objective for the group.

"At ANZ, I want us to fast track the change to a digital culture," he said. "We need to embrace the change in customer behaviour that technology brings, and to make sure we are offering the best possible digital services.

"We need to adapt to the widespread disruption of traditional business models, and make sure we are helping our clients thrive in these exciting but challenging times."

The company further signalled its commitment to the digital push when it recruited people from Twitter, Dimension Data, and former employees of PayPal and Procter & Gamble to establish a technology panel to help with the bank's digital transformation.

It also secured a five-year AU$450 million partnership with IBM to deploy the Big Blue's content management, data, analytics, and cloud software. ANZ said at the time it would support its ongoing core banking and infrastructure needs.

ANZ revealed during its 2015 full year results that total technology expenses increased by AU$196 million from the AU$1.3 billion reported last year to AU$1.5 billion this year. ANZ attributed part of the increase to the increased depreciation and amortisation on key infrastructure projects, higher data storage, software licence costs, and increased use of outsourced and managed services.