Australia and New Zealand Bank is preparing to launch an online shopping mall, ANZ Square, populated by smart card and PIN-accepting Verified by Visa merchants.
The bank is promoting the benefits of the mall to applicants for its chip-enabled ANZ First Credit Card. As an additional incentive, consumers are being offered a free chip card reader, valued at A$75, for additional security and loading of loyalty points and special offers when shopping online.
The roll-out is part of a $50 million investment in smart cards, first signalled by the bank in November last year. Under the programme, ANZ is upgrading one million credit cards and 80,000 merchant terminals to accept chip technology. Replacement of the majority of ANZ-branded Visa cards and merchant terminals is expected to be complete by September 2002.
Applicants for the new cards are being invited to view a Flash demonstration of ANZ Square, described as an online destination for Verified by Visa merchants. Under the Verified by Visa programme, consumers must key in an additional password or PIN at the check-out when shopping online. Retailers currently signed up for the ANZ mall include Wishlist, GreenGrocer.com.au and Roses Only.