The University of Sydney and ANZ launch Visa prepaid ID card for students (PDF 36kB)
The University of Sydney, ANZ and Visa today launched an Australian-first ‘smarter’ and more convenient student identification (ID) card that doubles as a Visa reloadable prepaid card.
University of Sydney students will begin receiving their new co-branded Student Campus Cards with Visa reloadable prepaid functionality this week.
This is the first student ID card combined with a payment facility to be used at an Australian university, following a successful pilot with 2,000 students in late 2009.
Professor Derrick Armstrong, University of Sydney Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) and Registrar said: “We are committed to making university life as enjoyable and convenient as possible and this is just another way we can enhance our students’ campus experience.
“The combination card means that students only need to carry one card with them during their university days for ID, building access and day-to-day expenses, and they will be able to reload on campus for free.”
As well as student photo ID, personal information and building access, key features of the ‘smarter’ University of Sydney Student Campus Card include:
Minimal fees: no issuance fee, free reloads on campus and $0.50 BPAY reloads.
Can be used throughout the University’s campuses and at 29 million merchant locations worldwide where Visa is accepted including online, over the phone and in stores.
Can be used for cash withdrawals at ATMs that accept Visa cards (there are no fees for using ANZ ATMs, fees may be charged by other institutions for using non-ANZ ATMs).
Cards are reloadable and have a maximum available daily balance of $1,000.
University of Sydney students are not required to be existing ANZ customers or to open an ANZ deposit account.
ANZ Managing Director Retail Products John Harries said: “This kind of two-in-one card makes sense for University students as it gives them the convenience of the Visa network and they can stay in control of their money as the card uses their own pre-loaded cash.”
Mr Harries said ANZ’s partnership with the University of Sydney followed the popular launch of the MySpace Recharge Visa card and was another way to offer people a secure and convenient alternative for cash with additional benefits that suited their needs and lifestyle.
Visa General Manager Australia Chris Clark said: “This card provides a new way for students to pay for items such as textbooks and online resources with the convenience of the Visa network, while giving them a better way to track their spending and manage budgets.”