Commonwealth Bank of Australia to add Android Pay, Garmin watches
The Commonwealth Bank of Australia has announced it is teaming up with Google to allow the bank's customers to complete transactions via Android Pay and make on-the-go payments with Garmin smartwatches. Michael Baumann, the general manager of everyday banking and payments, said the partnership will give app users "more ways than ever to pay", with transactions up to AUD100 ($80) available via contactless payments using the bank's PayTag system. Android Pay will be available to the bank's users before the end of the year.
Commonwealth Bank has teamed with Google to offer Android Pay and will also enable payments on the go with Garmin smartwatches.

Android Pay allows customers to make convenient and secure payments on their Android compatible devices. Android Pay is available at almost 800,000 stores across Australia, wherever contactless payments are accepted.

Garmin has recently launched a smartwatch and CommBank customers will be able to make payments with a tap of their smartwatch. These smartwatch payments will be available across Android and iOS phones.

Michael Baumann, General Manager Everyday Banking & Payments, Commonwealth Bank said CommBank's 4.4 million app users now have more ways than ever to pay.

'In June this year we saw weekly transactions across the CommBank app hit $6.1 billion so we know customers love using their phones to make payments and do their banking. Since 2013 our customers have been able to use their smartphones to make payments. By offering customers the ability to pay with Android Pay and with their Garmin smartwatches we are combining choice and convenience.'

Android Pay complements the CommBank app's Tap & Pay functionality allowing customers to make contactless payments using an Android smartphone of their choice. The CommBank app digital wallet also allows customers to store and use their favourite store loyalty cards and simply and easily transfer money to family and friends.

For customers who use an iOS device, CommBank has offered contactless payments via an optional PayTag sticker for more than three years. Customers can use the PayTag sticker to make contactless payments up to $100 by simply tapping their phone.

Recent changes to CommBank's Tap & Pay will allow customers to choose their preferred way of making payments with their mobile phone. Customers can set up Tap & Pay in the CommBank mobile app, and select between the convenience of simply powering up the phone to tap at the POS, using the smartphones device security such as Touch ID to tap, or opening up the CommBank app to tap.

Android Pay will be available to Commonwealth Bank customers before the end of the year.

Garmin smartwatches have been launched globally and CommBank customers will be able to use these when they hit the market in early October.