Westpac New Zealand is preparing to launch an app that uses augmented reality to let customers get account information on their screens simply by viewing their cards through their phones' cameras.
In what the bank claims is a world's first, from September customers who download the iOS app will be able to slide their payment cards under their phone to activate the camera.
They will then see augmented reality, 3D images showing their balances, transaction history, spend locations, payments alerts and other information. Users can also scan their surroundings to find Westpac ATMs and branches.
The app was the winning concept from the bank's crowd sourcing initiative, launched late last year, challenging UK developers and designers to come up with an idea for the chance to win a trip down under.
Simon Pomeroy, chief digital officer, Westpac NZ, says: "Not so long ago augmented reality was considered a futuristic prop in the movies but a growing number of people believe it has the potential to change our lives as much as the internet and mobile phone.
"From the moment we saw the concept for this app in our crowdsourcing competition in the United Kingdom and started to develop it, the impact augmented reality can have in adding a new dimension to mobile banking became apparent."