Message with your money

By RICHARD WOOD

Consumers can expect personally targeted messages through cash Machines in the near future.

The Bank of New Zealand is to try a system called Tailored Opportunities (TOPS) that has already had a test run at parent National Australia Bank.

The bank runs banner advertisements that vary according to the card type inserted and time and place, but TOPS will be specific to the individual.

When a card is inserted, the Windows NT systems inside the bank's ATMs will query the Terradata data warehouse in Australia and come up with offers specific to the customer.

If the customer shows interest, it will be followed up later by the frontline bankers.

Head of online solutions Chris Walker says messages may come up as you wait for your cash to appear - that way they won't hold up the queues.

And care will be taken not to bombard the customer with the same message through different marketing channels.

Other personalisation will be possible such as delivering a menu that highlights a customer's favoured transaction and using the customer's preferred language.

In the past year the BNZ has added bill payment ability to its ATMs and at Christchurch airport BNZ can dispense departure tax dockets.

At both Auckland and Christchurch airports, Australian cash can be output.

Despite the growing list of features, Walker said the primary functions of an ATM did not change and could not be compromised.

"We have to get the basics right. Cash withdrawal and balance inquiry. Then it's about the value added on top."

He said having the Windows NT systems inside the ATMs gave the BNZ the capability to make changes and test new ideas easily.

The systems are connected by 64Kbps links.

The BNZ has 12 staff involved in ATM business and technology development. Walker said the BNZ had 396 ATMs out of approximately 1800 across all the banks in New Zealand.