Briefs: ANZ may sell Panin, Apple Watches are go at Westpac

Banking Day staff
  • Talk is circulating once more than ANZ may sell its 39 per cent stake in PT Bank Pan Indonesia. Japan's Mizuho Financial Group remains the likely buyer, Bloomberg reports. ANZ began discussions with Mizuho to sell the stake in 2013.

  • DBS Bank and Westpac have partnered to offer their customers access to ATMs in both countries. DBS customers can access Westpac's 3000 ATMs in Australia "fee-free", while Westpac customers can likewise use more than 1100 DBS and POSB ATMs in Singapore.A three per cent foreign transaction fee still applies.

  • Westpac has promised its customers they will be among the first to have access to mobile banking services via Apple Watches. Westpac's General Manager Digital, Harry Wendt, said around 370,000 smart watches were purchased by Australians last year.

  • Global clearing house LCH.Clearnet has established new deposit and liquidity facilities with the Reserve Bank of Australia. LCH.Clearnet is the first foreign licensed central counterparty clearing house to maintain an exchange settlement account with the RBA and has started to settle its Australian dollar payments via this account. LCH.Clearnet has also become a direct member of the Reserve Bank Information and Transfer System.