Briefs: Queensland reviews rural debt, ING Direct introduces biometrics
The Queensland Government will form a taskforce to report on rural debt in the drought-affected state, the ABC reports. According to one estimate the proportion of Queensland rural borrowers in arrears has doubled in the past two years. Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt said the taskforce would look at the opportunity for a rural development bank and also review the operation of the Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority, which administers concessional loans for drought-affected farmers. ING Direct has launched a fingerprint sensor to allow customers using iPhones or iPads to log into their mobile banking apps. The bank said 70 per cent of its customers use a mobile app for their banking. "As the appetite for mobile banking grows we will continue to focus on ensuring our customers' experience is as simple, straightforward and convenient as possible," the bank said in a statement.