Bank to debut Android app in NZ

Leading the charge towards 21st Century banking solutions, BNZ has become the first New Zealand bank to reveal an Internet banking application designed specifically for Android smartphone users says TVNZ.

For Android-toting BNZ customers, this means the bank now offers them a full suite of mobile banking services covering both Android and Apple iOS-powered smartphones along with a purpose-built mobile banking Web site for everything else.

Head of BNZ online Rogan Clarke says the start 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, reveals The National Business Review.

BNZ's Web site saw 1 313% growth in visits from Android devices in the 12 months to June 2011, with about 10 000 visits over one month, the bank says.

The application, which is now available from the Android market, allows customers to do the same operations they can do on the mobile Web site and the existent iPhone app, writes ComputerWorld.

There is also a store and ATM finder, using the GPS capabilities of the Android smartphone.