Victoria’s Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) has appointed CBA as a merchant acquirer for its next generation public transport ticketing system roll-out. The new system will allow, for the first time, Victorian commuters including regional V/Line users, to tap on and off public transport with the card or smart device they already carry everywhere. CBA’s work with DTP builds on the bank’s appointment to the Victorian Government Banking Panel in 2021.

“With the Victorian Government’s announcement of planned improvements to the myki system, Victorians, international and interstate visitors alike, will enjoy the simple, frictionless experience that contactless payments provide public transport users. We are excited to work with the Department of Transport and Planning to bring contactless payments to the State. Public transport is an integral part of daily life for many Victorians, so we are proud to play a part in improving the commuter experience,” said Andrew Hinchliff, Group Executive Institutional Banking & Markets at CBA.

“We have a longstanding commitment to innovation in public transport infrastructure, with CBA’s digital transit ticketing capability now underpinning every open loop contactless payment option used by public transport in Australia and New Zealand,” Hinchliff added.

Under the public transport ticketing improvements that will be progressively rolled out, Victorians, and visitors to the state, will be able to pay for their trams, buses and trains by tapping on and off with their credit or debit card and paying with a digital wallet on a smart-phone or smart-watch.

Meanwhile, myki cardholders will continue to be able to use their physical myki card and top up via traditional means, as well as online or at kiosks using EFTPOS, credit, debit, and digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Importantly, as improvements are progressively added, the system will help make travel across Victoria more seamless. Regional V/line commuters, concession holders, as well as international and interstate visitors will be able to choose contactless credit and debit card payment options, in line with their experience using transport networks in other global cities.