ANZ, CBA, NAB, & Westpac face a $22 billion problem

Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ASX:ANZ), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX:CBA), National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX:NAB), and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX:WBC) could lose $22 billion of revenue to Apple Pay and other digital wallets…

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Last week National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) finally gave in to customer demand and followed the lead of Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ASX: ANZ) and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) by offering its customers the ability to use Apple Pay.

Apple Pay, which was launched by Apple in 2014, provides consumers with an easy, secure, and private way to pay for items using their iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, or Mac.

NAB's launch means Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) is now the only big four bank not offering the service to its customers.

This may be due to concerns over the negative impact on revenue that digital wallets are expected to have in the future.

According to Morgan Stanley, courtesy of the AFR, its analysts estimate that smartphone digital wallets could put upwards of $22 billion of revenue across the major Australian banks at risk.

The broker believes that customers could favour digital wallets provided by the likes of Google Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and PayPal as they allow numerous cards and accounts from different banks or credit card providers to be linked. Whereas the digital wallet from CBA, for example, only allows the bank's products to be used.

Where does the $22 billion come from?

Morgan Stanley is quick to point out that direct revenue from providing payments is far less than the $22 billion figure.

Its analysts came to that figure after looking into how a banks' payments capability influences decisions relating to other products. This includes transaction accounts that give major banks an opportunity to cross-sell customers more profitable products such as mortgages.

Morgan Stanley's banking analyst, Richard Wiles, said: "We think increasingly customers are likely to base their decision on the features in the app, and a lot of those features are payments-related. The capacity around payments drives decisions on which transaction account and which bank you choose as your main financial institution."

In light of this, it is no surprise to learn that CBA announced earlier this week that it would invest $5 billion in technology over the next five years.

Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. James Mickleboro owns Westpac shares. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and recommends Alphabet (C shares) and Apple. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has the following options: long January 2020 $150 calls on Apple and short January 2020 $155 calls on Apple. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of National Australia Bank Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet (C shares) and Apple. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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