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March 21, 2025
On the web
Crypto Regulation Finally Coming to Australia With Exchanges Facing Bank-Like Rules
SmartCompany
"The Australian government has unveiled long-awaited crypto regulations, requiring exchanges and fintechs holding digital assets to meet financial services standards."
March 18, 2025
Top Post
Visa Partners With Major Banks to Launch Vbip in Australia
IT Brief Australia
"Visa has announced a partnership with ANZ, NAB, HSBC, and Westpac to introduce Visa B2B Integrated Payments (VBIP) in Australia, aimed at enhancing and simplifying business-to-business transactions for companies of varying scales. The VBIP solution is integrated within the SAP Business Technology Platform, which helps businesses automate their B2B payments."
March 13, 2025
Top Post
AP+ works with Google to offer Least Cost Routing on Google Wallets [Australia]
Australian Payments Plus
"Australian Payments Plus (AP+) has worked with Google to roll out eftpos functionality and Least Cost Routing (LCR) on transactions made via the mobile Google Wallet, allowing merchants to choose to have more payments routed via the lower-cost eftpos network. ANZ and Suncorp Bank are the first two issuers live with eftpos multi-network debit cards in the Google Wallet, with other issuers to follow over the course of 2025."
March 11, 2025
On the web
Azupay and Gr4vy Partner to Transform eCommerce Payments with NPP-Powered Solutions
Azupay
"Azupay, Australia’s leading pure-play New Payments Platform (NPP) provider, has partnered with Gr4vy, a no-code payment orchestration platform, to bring real-time, account-to-account payment solutions to Australian eCommerce businesses. This collaboration enables merchants to leverage Azupay’s PayID, PayTo, and Pay by Bank offerings through Gr4vy’s payment orchestration platform to streamline transactions."
February 7, 2025
On the web
Is the End of Pesky Card Surcharges on the Horizon? [Australia]
Smart Company
"The Reserve Bank is undertaking a big study into card surcharging — with the goal of making them go away, or at least get much smaller.g a big study into card surcharging — with the goal of making them go away, or at least get much smaller."
January 31, 2025
On the web
NAB and Amazon Launch PayTo® Payment for Amazon Australian Customers
NAB News
"Customers shopping on Amazon.com.au can now use ‘PayTo’ to make a purchase directly from their bank account in a seamless, secure way, removing the need to provide card details."
January 27, 2025
On the web
New Law to Require Credit Licences for Providers of Buy Now, Pay Later Products [Australia]
The Lawyer Mag
"Buy now, pay later products will soon face stronger regulation with a new legal regime that seeks to better protect this country’s consumers, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has said."
January 20, 2025
On the web
Banking Circle Signs Deal to Buy Australian Settlements Limited
MSN
"Luxembourg-based payment bank Banking Circle has agreed to acquire Australian Settlements Limited (ASL) for an undisclosed sum. The move is aimed at supporting Banking Circle’s vision to set up a global hub for real-time clearing and settlement, expediting its Australian expansion."
January 16, 2025
On the web
CBA Urges Reserve Bank to Scrap all Card Surcharges [Australia]
Australian Financial Review
"Commonwealth Bank has urged the Reserve Bank to scrap surcharges on debit and credit card payments, amid mounting consumer anger over the ubiquitous practice. This would bring Australia into line with overseas economies in Europe and the UK where the practice is banned."
December 3, 2024
On the web
Commonwealth Bank Slugs Some Customers With Ridiculous New Fee to Withdraw Their Money in Shock Announcement [Australia]
Mail Online
"Australia's biggest bank will soon charge some customers a fee if they want to withdraw their own money from branches. Customers of the Commonwealth Bank got a rude shock on Monday when the bank announced it was closing its 'Complete Access Account' and changing them to 'Smart Access Accounts'. But the new account will include a $3 fee tacked onto every withdrawal from a branch, a post office or phone, starting January 6."
November 20, 2024
On the web
‘Big Four’ Banks Test New AI-Based Fraud Tech [Australia]
Information Age
"Executives from some of Australia’s largest banks say social media and telecommunications companies are not doing enough to fight scams and fraud on their platforms, as the country’s financial giants reveal they are testing a new layer of security billed as a world-first. ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, NAB, Westpac, and Suncorp Bank announced they had begun piloting new tech from Israeli cyber security company BioCatch as part of their intelligence-sharing network."
November 19, 2024
Top Post
Cheques Transition Plan: Winding Down Australia’s Cheques System
Treasury
"Although they were once a cornerstone of Australia’s payment system, cheques now account for less than 0.1% of total volume of retail payments in Australia. Winding them down in a staged, responsible manner will help reduce transaction costs across the economy, drive down the costs of the associated goods and services and improve productivity."
October 31, 2024
On the web
2024 Annual Review: AusPayNet
AusPayNet
"AusPayNet’s 2024 Annual Review, ‘Making it happen’, reflects on our work throughout FY2024 to help facilitate the continued evolution of payments in Australia."
October 17, 2024
On the web
Mastercard, Visa Warning Over RBA Push to Change Card Fees: ‘No Such Thing as a Free Lunch'
Yahoo Finance
"Mastercard and Visa have warned of the "unintended consequences" if the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) makes changes to card fees. The RBA is conducting a large-scale investigation into the card system, how they affect people across the country, and whether they're still fit for purpose more than 20 years after they were introduced."
October 15, 2024
On the web
Reserve Bank of Australia Puts Payment Industry on Notice to Protect Shops, Restaurants
Australian Financial Review
"The Reserve Bank of Australia is considering restricting the fees that payments providers such as banks receive for processing debit card transactions, warning the cost on businesses may be too high. The central bank’s deliberations come as Labor prepares to ban retailers from passing on fees for debit card payments in the form of a surcharge."
October 14, 2024
On the web
Australia Plans to Reduce Bank Card Surcharges From 2026
Reuters
"Australia is planning to reduce bank card surcharges, including the elimination of transaction fees on debit cards, the government said on Monday, as the use of cash declines in the country. In a media release, the government said the central bank was undertaking a review of the merchant card payment costs and surcharging, and subject to that consultation, it is prepared to ban debit card surcharging from 2026."
October 11, 2024
On the web
Banked Gains Foothold on Australia’s Real-Time Payments Market With the Acquisition of Waave
Banked
"In a landmark deal set to put the spotlight on the continued global adoption of real-time account-to-account payments, Banked, a leading global Pay by Bank provider, today announced its acquisition of Australian payment technology firm Waave."
September 30, 2024
On the web
Reserve Bank of Australia: Payments System Board Annual Report – 2024
Reserve Bank of Australia
"The RBA undertakes regulatory and policy work on retail payment systems. Over the past year, the RBA focused on implementing policy actions aimed at enhancing competition and efficiency in the debit card market. The RBA also assisted Treasury and other regulatory bodies on reforms to the regulatory framework for payments."
September 25, 2024
On the web
Apple, Google Respond to Payment Cost Heat by Backing EFTPOS (Australia)
Australian Financial Review
"US tech giants Apple and Google will let Australian retailers choose to send customers’ tap-and-go smartphone payments to the lower-cost eftpos network, something their digital wallets have prevented to date."
September 24, 2024
On the web
Australian Payments Plus & Thoughtworks Team to Fuel Payto Adoption
IBS Intelligence
"Thoughtworks, a global technology consultancy, has joined Australian Payments Plus (AP+), Australia’s domestic payments organisation operating the BPAY, eftpos and NPP payment schemes, to develop new customer experience (CX) industry guidelines for PayTo."
September 19, 2024
On the web
Australia’s RBA to Prioritise Wholesale CBDC Work Over Retail
MSN
"Australia's central bank has decided to prioritise work on a wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC) as its economic benefits are judged to outweigh those of a retail version, a top policymaker said on Wednesday."
September 3, 2024
On the web
‘Shocking’: NAB CEO Wants ‘Outrageous’ Fee Costing Australians $960M Scrapped
SBS News
"A major bank boss has taken aim at "outrageous" card payment surcharges, saying they are no longer fit for purpose. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) plans to expedite a review of the practice and hopes to release a consultation paper on the issue by the end of the year."
August 14, 2024
On the web
Australia’s Adatree Launches Consumer Data Rights or ‘CDR Insights’ to Combat Fraud
Open Banking Expo
"Australia-based Adatree has launched a fraud prevention product that provides real-time account verification and balance checks and revealed that a state government entity will be the first to adopt it."
August 5, 2024
On the web
Australia Signs up to Global Campaign to Fight Cryptocurrency Scams
Cyber Daily
"The Australian Federal Police said that Operation Spincaster has already found more than 2,000 compromised Australian-owned crypto wallets."
July 25, 2024
On the web
J.P. Morgan Joins Australia’s Fast Payment Network
FST Media
"J.P. Morgan Payments, the payments services and paytech development arm of US banking giant J.P. Morgan Chase, has been announced as the newest member of the AP+ network. Through its membership, the US payments giant will gain access to Australia’s domestic fast payments network, the New Payments Platform (NPP), as well as to EFTPOS’ online debit payments network for its customers."
July 24, 2024
On the web
Monoova Deal Signals Real-Time Payments Momentum [Australia]
Capital Brief
"There are further signs of momentum in the take-up of real-time payments in Australia with one of the leading fintechs in the space, Monoova, inking a deal with a major global insurance platform."
June 27, 2024
On the web
RBA’s Focus on Online Payments Signals Broader Trends in Global Financial Regulation
Finance Magnates
"In a world where digital transactions are increasingly becoming the norm, the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) recent speech by Ellis Connolly, Head of Payments Policy, sheds light on critical issues surrounding online retail payments. Delivered at the Merchant Risk Council Conference on June 18, 2024, Connolly’s address highlights both the advancements and challenges faced by Australia in this rapidly evolving sector."
June 26, 2024
Top Post
Online Retail Payments – Some Policy Issues (Australia/Speech at the Merchant Risk Council)
Reserve Bank of Australia
"The payments landscape in Australia is continuing to evolve rapidly, with new business models and technologies emerging. This is particularly the case for online retail payments, which I will focus on today. But first, I will provide you with a brief update on the Australian Government’s reforms to the RBA’s regulatory role in payments and on the RBA’s upcoming review of retail payments regulation."
June 18, 2024
On the web
RBA Flags BNPL Fee Crackdown in Broader Probe Into Credit Cards
Australian Financial Review
"The Reserve Bank has flagged a crackdown on buy now, pay later operators, and may force them to let retailers pass the cost of the short-term credit on to customers, as it outlined plans to launch a review of payment regulations as soon as it is handed stronger powers."
June 11, 2024
On the web
Australia Moves to Rein in Buy-Now-Pay-Later with Credit Check Law
MSN
"The Australian government on Wednesday introduced legislation that would require buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) firms to run credit checks on borrowers, aiming to regulate the rapidly growing sector popular among youth like other consumer credit products."
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