ASB says, in a first for a New Zealand bank, its customers can make payments directly to their Facebook friends from today.
The move comes through the latest upgrade to ASB's mobile banking application.
“More than two million New Zealanders are on Facebook, and many of them are managing their lives through social media channels,” said Anna Curzon, ASB's general manager for brand experience and digital channels.
“Payments through Facebook are the next logical step in our banking services, allowing our customers to make quick and easy payments to Facebook ‘friends’, without the hassle of asking for bank account numbers."
The Facebook move was outlined by ASB last month, when the bank said the service would be launched in mid-July. Curzon told interest.co.nz in June that a "whole host" of other mobile banking ideas were being worked on at ASB, which has generally been the leading implementer of new technology among the major New Zealand banks.
Today she said Facebook-initiated payments were another step towards a cashless society.
"Mobile and online banking innovations mean customers no longer need to rely on the traditional wallet, they can instead use ‘the bank in their hand,’ giving them greater control over how they mange their money,” said Curzon.
The upgraded ASB mobile app is available on both Apple and Android smartphones with an iPad version due to be launched later this year.
Meanwhile, interest.co.nz asked the Reserve Bank whether it had any particular views on, and/or concerns, about the use of social media for payments, and whether it had done any work in the area of mobile banking.
A spokeswoman replied: "Mobile banking and banking that uses an interface via social media are relatively new and evolving aspects of banking in New Zealand. While the Reserve Bank has no current concerns, it is monitoring its development, as it relates to the payment system."
(Update adds comments from Reserve Bank spokeswoman).
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