by Byron Connolly

CommBank app will soon be available on smartwatches

News
Apr 09, 20152 mins
Technology Industry

The CommBank app will soon be available on smart watches, with an Android version currently in pilot and an Apple Watch version on the way, the bank said on Thursday.

Smart watch users will use the app for check their balances by tapping their watches, locate ATMs, and use the Cardless Cash function, which enables them to withdraw cash from the bank’s 3,000 ATMs without a card.

A CommBank spokesperson said the Android version would be available in a matter of weeks.

CommBank will announce a launch date for the Apple Watch version after the app is tested on the hardware, which arrives in Australia on April 24, the spokesperson said.

Commonwealth Bank’s executive general manager, digital channels, Lisa Frazier, said the watch is a natural extension of the CommBank app.

“With 65 per cent of logons to everyday banking and more than $100 billion in payments each year coming via our CommBank app, we are committed to delivering more personalised, simple and convenient mobile banking experiences,” Frazier said.

Frazier said CommBank was the first bank to include Cardless Cash as a transactional capability. Cardless Cash uses near field communication technology to enable 2.3 million registered CommBank app users to withdraw up to $200 once a day using a smartphone or nominate someone else to transact on their behalf.

“Smart watches represent the next exciting generation of personal mobile devices. We are at the start of a new way of banking and together with our customers’ passion for mobile and cardless banking, we will lead in developing ways to fully leverage the capabilities of our smart watches,” Frazier said.

Last month, Citi in the UK said it was also creating an app for the Apple Watch, offering account and transaction information using the device.

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