Aussie major banks unlikely to succeed in challenging Apple on mobile payment

Four major Australian banks aren't likely to succeed in forcing Apple to allow them to operate their own electronic payment applications on the iPhone.

Several Aussie tech industry experts told Fairfax Media on Tuesday that banks will "simply have to take a dose of their own medicine after years of blocking access to banking data."

Last week, four of Australian largest banks, the National Australia Bank, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Westpac Banking Corp and Bendigo and Adelaide Bank filed an application to the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) seeking permission to collectively negotiate with Apple for their own electronic payments applications to be featured on the iPhone.

"It's not in Apple's nature nor in its interest to deal with the banks in such a way (that they just open up), previous dealings between Apple and the larger of the big four have tended to see Apple set the terms," Intelligent Business Research Services advisor Guy Cranswick said.

"The banks need Apple more than Apple needs them, although Apple also needs this to work for its business, given stalling new ventures, but the phone and the brand carry the consumer above the banks' brands and presence," he said.

Founder and chief executive of fintech startup Stockspot, Chris Brycki, said the banks' complaints represented hypocrisy, as they took a similar approach by not allowing other companies to access their client financial data easily.

"Banks need to decide where they stand when it comes to open technology. If they are for it, as they are insisting to Apple and Google, then they need to come to the party on open data APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for fintechs," said Brycki.

At present, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group is the only Australian bank to have taken on Apple Pay by introducing it to its customers since April. Enditem