In today’s world technology moves quickly. Some would say too quickly – have you ever tried to keep up with your kids on an iPad? It’s exhausting!

Just about everything is more accessible and convenient thanks to advances in technology. But the real question is how can you use it to your advantage? Especially when it comes to managing money…. we sat down with Stuart from People’s Choice Credit Union to get the facts on how technology can help us better manage our finances.

Banking apps are fast becoming the norm, why do you think consumers are heading this way?

These days, most banks and credit unions have an app for your smartphone or tablet and they’ve become the primary way many people do their banking.

The reason for this is that banking apps are so convenient, easy to use and always on. Most people want to do their banking anytime, anywhere, with one or two taps of a finger, so a good quality app is often a high priority when selecting a transaction account and who you want to bank with.

How can consumers use banking apps to better manage their finances?

Mobile banking is fast, secure, and available at your fingertips, so staying on top of your finances is now easier and more convenient than it’s ever been.

Banking apps provide access to your money on-the-go, with most allowing you to view your account balance and transaction history, transfer funds and pay bills, all from your mobile device.

Tell us about your banking app.

Customer expectations of mobile banking apps are higher than ever, as we engage more and more with mobile and tablet devices. At People’s Choice, remaining competitive is a top priority, so we continue to deliver the kinds of products and services that our members have come to expect from us – and our app is no exception.

Available from the App Store or Google Play, our app is easy to use, and provides all the functionality you need to manage your finances on the move.

You can pay bills using BPAY®, conduct online transfers between accounts or to other financial institutions, as well as check balances, locate the nearest branch or ATM and access the latest product information. From the app, you can also use our Pay Easy feature to transfer funds with only an email address or mobile phone number. You can register multiple devices for access to their finances, too, so you can bank from your phone, tablet or laptop.

We are moving towards a cashless society, tell us about the new Redi2Pay and VISA PayTag from People’s Choice Credit Union.

As the world of digital payments becomes increasingly popular, we are proud to be one of the first credit unions in Australia to make advanced contactless technologies available to our members.

VISA PayTag is like a mini VISA debit card that can be attached to the back of your iPhone or older Android phone, giving you the ability to quickly and easily make purchases under $100 using retailers’ payWave outlets, without the need for a traditional card. You can order your VISA PayTag by calling 13 11 82 or dropping into a branch.

The People’s Choice redi2PAY app is free to download from the Google Play store, and transforms a newer Android phone into a VISA debit or credit card for payWave purchases under $100. Members simply register their preferred VISA payWave card on the app to starting tapping to pay. They can also check their card balance with the app.

What happens if you lose your phone? Are your details still safe?

Members who use our mobile banking app, VISA PayTag and redi2PAY are protected by the same security systems as those that protect all our card payment activities.

If your phone is lost or stolen, contact us on 13 11 82 and we can deregister your phone for you, or cancel your VISA PayTag.

It’s an interesting fact that it takes someone 7 minutes to notice they have lost their phone, but up to 7 hours to notice that they have lost their wallet or purse. So, if you’re as connected to your phone as the rest of us are, this kind of banking could be even more secure than a card.

Any additional tips and tricks to help us manage our finances with technology? Do you have/recommend any budgeting apps and give us some advice on how best to use them?

We’re here to help our members achieve their financial goals sooner, and we offer a great range of competitive products and services. We’d love to see you at one of our branches or have a chat from our contact centre, but we also offer some great online functionality for member convenience in today’s busy world.

There are some fantastic tools on People’s Choice’s website, peopleschoicecu.com.au, designed to help you make the most of your money, and our new site is responsive to any device, so it’s just as easy to navigate and use on your phone or tablet as it is on your desktop.

We have a great range of calculators that are easy to use and will help you budget and plan your finances, and our great product comparators and fast and easy online applications, so you see our range of loans, accounts and insurance products at a glance and choose which best suits your needs, and then apply straight away. .

Thanks for answering our questions, Stuart. For more information on People’s Choice Credit Union visit their website by clicking here.

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