The news is better late than never for ME and Heritage Bank customers, with the two banks following the more than 80, including all of the big four, in introducing the smartphone payment service. 

Westpac, the last of the big four to introduce Apple Pay, did so in late April. 

The introduction of Apple Pay from ME and Heritage Bank comes at a time when contactless payments continue to climb as a result of COVID-19

Read: Record number of digital wallet transactions made in March 2020

To use Apple Pay, customers can simply hold their iPhone or Apple Watch near a payment terminal once Apple Pay has been installed. To do this: 

  1. Open the Wallet app and tap + then sign in;
  2. Follow the prompts to add a new card;
  3. Verify yourself by the SMS or email with your code;

Then, customers can hold their phones to a terminal and place their finger on Touch ID to pay. 

This is available on the iPhone 6 or any later versions, as well as the Apple Watch Series 1 and later versions - any ME & Heritage Bank debit or credit card can be used. 

Need somewhere to store cash and earn interest? The table below features introductory savings accounts with some of the highest interest rates on the market.

Provider

4000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening
  • No account keeping fees
  • No minimum balance

High Interest Savings Account (< $250k)

  • Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening
  • No account keeping fees
  • No minimum balance
4000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • A high-interest online savings account with no monthly fees, easy withdrawals and award-winning digital banking
  • No withdrawal notice periods or interest rate penalties
  • Save up to 10% on eGift cards at over 50 retailers with Macquarie Marketplace

Savings Account (Amounts < $250k)

  • A high-interest online savings account with no monthly fees, easy withdrawals and award-winning digital banking
  • No withdrawal notice periods or interest rate penalties
  • Save up to 10% on eGift cards at over 50 retailers with Macquarie Marketplace
000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
*Rate varies on savings amount
  • Deposit $500 per month to get bonus interest
  • 5.50% p.a. available on total savings up to $100k.
  • 5.00% p.a. applies to savings between $100k-250K.
  • Tiered bonus rates apply. (TMDs at ubank.com.au)
*Rate varies on savings amount

Save Account (<$100,000)

  • Deposit $500 per month to get bonus interest
  • 5.50% p.a. available on total savings up to $100k.
  • 5.00% p.a. applies to savings between $100k-250K.
  • Tiered bonus rates apply. (TMDs at ubank.com.au)
4000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • For deposit amounts $0 - $49,999
  • New ING personal savings customers receive an introductory bonus 0.50% p.a. variable kick starter rate for the first 4 months on balances up to $500,000.
  • Reverts to variable ongoing rate. T&Cs apply.

Savings Accelerator (Amounts < $50000)

  • For deposit amounts $0 - $49,999
  • New ING personal savings customers receive an introductory bonus 0.50% p.a. variable kick starter rate for the first 4 months on balances up to $500,000.
  • Reverts to variable ongoing rate. T&Cs apply.
010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Deposit at least $1,000+ each month from an external source
  • Make 5 or more eligible transactions
  • Grow your savings balance each month

Savings Maximiser (<$100k)

  • Deposit at least $1,000+ each month from an external source
  • Make 5 or more eligible transactions
  • Grow your savings balance each month
05001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

Goal Saver

    050$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

    Young Saver Account

      000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

      Smart Saver Account (Under 25)

        00.011$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

        Reward Saver Account($0-$100k)

          0501$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

          Save up

            02000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

            Bonus Saver (<$1 Million)

              000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

              ANZ Save

                01000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                Bonus Saver Account (Amounts < $100k)

                  5000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                  NetBank Saver

                    00.010$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                    Life (< 30 years) (Monthly deposit)

                      010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                      Boost Saver

                        020000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                        HomeME Savings Account ($0 - $100,000)

                          02001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                          Growth Saver ($1 - $25k)

                            010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
                            For customers aged 14-35 years
                            For customers aged 14-35 years

                            Future Saver Account ( < $50k)

                              0201$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                              Reward Saver Kick Start (Amounts ≤ $1m)

                                Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

                                All products with a link to a product provider’s website have a commercial marketing relationship between us and these providers. These products may appear prominently and first within the search tables regardless of their attributes and may include products marked as promoted, featured or sponsored. The link to a product provider’s website will allow you to get more information or apply for the product. By de-selecting “Show online partners only” additional non-commercialised products may be displayed and re-sorted at the top of the table. For more information on how we’ve selected these “Sponsored”, “Featured” and “Promoted” products, the products we compare, how we make money, and other important information about our service, please click here. Rates correct as of August 21, 2024. View disclaimer.

                                Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

                                “We’re pleased to announce that all new and existing ME cardholders can now use Apple Pay," ME Group Executive Customer Banking Craig Ralston said. 

                                "Customers have been asking for it, and we’re happy to be introducing it during a time when people are looking for an alternative to cash."

                                Heritage Bank CEO Peter Lock said COVID-19 has made it more important than ever to support customers to make contactless digital payments simply and safely.

                                “We are continuing to listen, learn and innovate and are absolutely thrilled to build on our goal of supporting our customers with great payment experiences through Apple Pay," Mr Lock said. 

                                ME Bank said Apple Pay is a safer, more secure and private way to pay. 

                                "Every Apple Pay purchase is secure because it is authenticated with Face ID, Touch ID, or device passcode, as well as a one-time unique dynamic security code," ME said. 

                                "Apple Pay is accepted wherever contactless payments are accepted, in grocery stores, pharmacies, taxis, restaurants, coffee shops, retail stores, and many more places."

                                ME-apple-phone-colour

                                Source: ME Bank.

                                Do ME and Heritage Bank also allow Google and Samsung Pay? 

                                As well as Apple Pay, two other major digital wallet platforms are Google Pay and Samsung Pay

                                Samsung Pay isn’t quite as popular as the likes of Apple Pay and Google Pay, which have more than 80 and 70 banking partners each. Samsung Pay, by contrast, has just over 60 supported banks on its roster. 

                                With the introduction of Apple Pay, Heritage Bank now offers each of these digital wallets

                                ME currently only has Apple Pay.