ANZ goes password-free: The first Aussie bank to kill logins as you know them

Biometrics in, passwords out

The new system will allow users to authenticate via passkeys — such as a fingerprint, facial recognition, or mobile PIN — or by approving a secure login request via their ANZ Plus app. No more forgotten passwords. No more phishing bait. Just seamless access backed by stronger authentication.

Maile Carnegie, ANZ Group Executive for Australia Retail, said the shift will transform how customers interact with the bank: “We’re helping prevent login credentials from being exposed in data breaches or phishing attacks. That’s one less thing for customers to worry about when it comes to banking security.”

Part of a broader security overhaul

The password-less upgrade isn’t a standalone feature — it’s part of a much larger security ecosystem ANZ has been building under the ANZ Plus brand:

• CallSafe, now used in over 20,000 customer calls, verifies identities without exchanging sensitive details.
Digital Padlock, launching mid-2025, lets users lock down their accounts instantly if they suspect suspicious activity.

• Scam Safe protections — including Crypto Protect and Screen Share Protect — have blocked millions in fraudulent payments.

• First Responders, ANZ’s fraud support team, has handled 140,000 scam-related calls in the past year with 93% resolved on first contact.

• Selfie ID, now embedded in key actions like PIN resets and payment limit increases, tightens biometric identity controls from day one.

Password-less banking: Trend or turning toint?

As digital fraud escalates and customer experience becomes a competitive differentiator, ANZ’s password-free web banking signals a shift many in the industry have long anticipated. It’s not just about smoother logins — it’s a direct response to the rising tide of cyber threats.

With this move, ANZ is putting the spotlight on authentication innovation — and daring the rest of the sector to keep up.