An office building with the Westpac logo is seen amid the easing of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in the central business district of Sydney, Australia, June 3, 2020. REUTERS / Loren Elliott
October 20 (Reuters) – Westpac Banking Corp (WBC.AX) announced on Wednesday that it will launch a digital credit card this year that offers zero interest and is primarily aimed at younger customers who seek the convenience of payment services fast and efficient.
Australia’s second-largest lender said customers could apply for the card, called Flex, online or through its mobile banking app, and would have access to A $ 1,000 ($ 748.50) in interest-free credit on purchases and without late payment fees.
The move comes as contactless payments have grown in popularity in recent years, especially among young, tech-savvy consumers who rely on the Internet for most of their purchases.
“Consumer research shows that young Australians are less likely to use a traditional credit card, compared to older generations,” said Chris de Bruin, managing director of Westpac Consumer and Business Banking.
Earlier in the year, Westpac teamed up with now-pay-later buyout giant Afterpay Ltd (APT.AX) for a banking app that would allow users to deposit their wages into savings accounts. Read more
($ 1 = AU $ 1.3360)
Sameer Manekar report in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D’Silva
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