Westpac's New Zealand arm has sent out an SOS to the UK's geeks, launching a mobile and Web banking app design competition, which will see the winning developer score a trip down under.
Westpac is asking UK developers and designers to come up with a banking service or process that could be done easier and faster using a mobile or Web app. The Brit who comes up with the best idea will get NZD$20,000 and a contribution of up to $20,000 towards an adventure holiday in New Zealand.
Another $60,000 is being promised to help bring the concept to market, while the winner will also retain intellectual property rights to the completed app and be able to commercialise it outside of New Zealand and Australia.
Simon Pomeroy, head, digital, Westpac, says: "If a developer or designer thinks like a customer and isolates a pain point, they have the skill and creativity to provide a solution through an app. There is the possibility that the app could also solve the same problem in other parts of the world and by retaining the intellectual property rights the winner can try and leverage that."
Last month Westpac NZ chose three apps to develop after a similar crowdsourcing challenge on home soil. The bank says two of those apps are expected to be available shortly.
Brits have until 7 February to enter the competition, with a shortlist of at least seven then chosen to give a 15 minute presentation on their concepts to a panel of judges via videoconference.