It's better late than never for ME Bank customers, with the bank joining the growing list of more than 70 banks, including the big four, in introducing the contactless payment system.

From today, customers of the bank will be able to connect their ME debit and credit cards to Google Pay for use in-store, online and via apps, both in Australia and for overseas online shopping.

The move comes at a time when contactless payments are surging in popularity thanks to COVID-19.

“Our customers are using cash less and contactless and digital payments more, so it makes sense for ME to increase the number of ways our customers can pay digitally with the addition of Google Pay," ME Group Executive Customer Banking Craig Ralston said. 

Need somewhere to store cash and earn interest? The table below features introductory savings accounts with some of the highest interest rates on the market.

Rates
Features
Conditions
Other
Provider
4000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • A high-interest online savings account with no monthly fees, easy withdrawals and award-winning digital banking
  • No withdrawal notice periods or interest rate penalties
  • Save up to 10% on eGift cards at over 50 retailers with Macquarie Marketplace
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Savings Account

  • A high-interest online savings account with no monthly fees, easy withdrawals and award-winning digital banking
  • No withdrawal notice periods or interest rate penalties
  • Save up to 10% on eGift cards at over 50 retailers with Macquarie Marketplace
More details
Disclosure
400$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Special offer: Savings Accelerator (Kick Starter offer).
  • For a limited time, new ING customers can get a bonus 0.70% p.a. on their savings rate on balances of $150,000 up to $500,000 for the first 4 months. T&Cs apply.
  • If your balance is over $500,000 (but less than $5 million) you will earn the ongoing variable rate of 4.7%
Disclosure

Savings Accelerator

  • Special offer: Savings Accelerator (Kick Starter offer).
  • For a limited time, new ING customers can get a bonus 0.70% p.a. on their savings rate on balances of $150,000 up to $500,000 for the first 4 months. T&Cs apply.
  • If your balance is over $500,000 (but less than $5 million) you will earn the ongoing variable rate of 4.7%
More details
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02000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Increase your balance by $200 each month to earn the maximum interest
  • No account keeping fees
  • No minimum balance
  • Interest paid monthly
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Online Savings - Premium Saver

  • Increase your balance by $200 each month to earn the maximum interest
  • No account keeping fees
  • No minimum balance
  • Interest paid monthly
More details
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010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Deposit at least $1,000+ each month from an external source
  • Make 5 or more eligible transactions
  • Grow your savings balance each month
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Savings Maximiser

  • Deposit at least $1,000+ each month from an external source
  • Make 5 or more eligible transactions
  • Grow your savings balance each month
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020000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

HomeME Savings Account (<$100k)

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    02001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

    Growth Saver

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      01000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

      Virgin Money Boost Saver

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        01001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

        Bonus Saver Account

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          01000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

          Bonus Saver

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            0100$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

            mySaver

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              000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

              Simple Saver

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                4001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                Netsave Account

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                  3000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                  Online Savings Account

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                    3000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                    HSBC Everyday Savings Account

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                      0501$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                      Incentive Saver Account

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                        4000.01$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                        Bankwest Easy Saver

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                          0502$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                          Bonus Saver

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                            000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
                            • Set up your Pay Cycle and connect your accounts from over 140 financial institutions.
                            • Retrace your spending steps into categories with Spending Footprint.
                            • Start tapping straightaway with Apple Pay, Google Pay™, Samsung Pay, and Garmin Pay.
                            • No monthly or international fees on any of your transactions.
                            Disclosure

                            Save Account

                            • Set up your Pay Cycle and connect your accounts from over 140 financial institutions.
                            • Retrace your spending steps into categories with Spending Footprint.
                            • Start tapping straightaway with Apple Pay, Google Pay™, Samsung Pay, and Garmin Pay.
                            • No monthly or international fees on any of your transactions.
                            More details
                            Disclosure
                            0500$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                            Incentive Saver Account

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                              02000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                              Growth Saver Account

                                More details
                                • Increase your balance by $200 each month to earn the maximum interest
                                • No account keeping fees
                                • No minimum balance
                                • Interest paid monthly

                                More details
                                Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

                                All products with a link to a product provider’s website have a commercial marketing relationship between us and these providers. These products may appear prominently and first within the search tables regardless of their attributes and may include products marked as promoted, featured or sponsored. The link to a product provider’s website will allow you to get more information or apply for the product. By de-selecting “Show online partners only” additional non-commercialised products may be displayed and re-sorted at the top of the table. For more information on how we’ve selected these “Sponsored”, “Featured” and “Promoted” products, the products we compare, how we make money, and other important information about our service, please click here. Rates correct as of November 21, 2024. View disclaimer.

                                Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

                                Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, ATM withdrawals by ME Bank customers have almost halved.

                                ME payment data reveals ATM withdrawals in the last six months (March-Aug 2020) declined by 45% compared with the six months prior. 

                                The total amount withdrawn from ATMs by ME Bank customers also fell 31% over the same period.

                                “COVID-19 is accelerating the trend away from cash towards cards and digital payments," Mr Ralston said. 

                                "ME customers using an Android device will now be able to use Google Pay to pay for things without touching PIN pads or handling cash."

                                It's not just the younger generation taking up contactless payments either: According to ME Bank, a 70-year-old customer recently told them her digital wallet is "very easy" to use.

                                How to set up Google Pay with ME

                                To use Google Pay, ME customers can simply hold their Android smartphone or compatible smartwatch near a payment terminal once Google Pay has been installed. To do this:

                                1. Open the Google Pay app
                                2. At the bottom, tap Payment.
                                3. Tap a card or payment account.
                                4. Tap Set up in-store payments

                                This is available on all Android devices that are running Android Lollipop (5.0) operating system or higher. Any ME Bank debit or credit card can be used.

                                Does ME Bank also offer Apple Pay and Samsung Pay?

                                ME Bank currently only offers Apple Pay and Google Pay. 

                                As well as Google Pay, Apple Pay and Samsung Pay are two other major digital wallet platforms.

                                Samsung Pay isn't quite as popular as Google Pay and Apple Pay, which have over 70 and 80 banking partners respectively. Samsung Pay has just over 60.