What Is POLi?
Bank TransferPOLi is an online bank transfer payment method used in Australia and New Zealand. It allows consumers to pay directly from their bank account through their online banking interface, without needing a credit card or creating a separate account.
How It Works
1. Customer selects POLi at checkout. 2. Customer chooses their bank from the POLi interface. 3. POLi opens a secure connection to the bank's online banking portal. 4. Customer logs into their bank and confirms the pre-filled payment. 5. Merchant receives instant payment confirmation. 6. Funds settle in 1-2 business days.
Key Details
Instant confirmation, 1-2 days settlement
AUD $1-2 per transaction
Bank-dependent (typically up to AUD $10,000)
2 countries
Pros & Cons
- No credit card needed — pays directly from bank account
- Low merchant fees compared to card processing
- Instant payment confirmation for merchants
- No chargebacks possible (bank transfer is final)
- Only available in Australia and New Zealand
- Requires customer to have internet banking
- Redirect-based flow can cause drop-offs
- No support for recurring payments or refunds
Use Cases
- Online gambling and gaming deposits
- Government and utility payments
- Insurance premium payments
- High-value purchases where card fees are significant
POLi (Pay OnLine Instantly) is a real-time online bank transfer payment method that serves the Australian and New Zealand markets. Developed by Merco Pty Ltd, POLi enables consumers to make secure online payments directly from their bank accounts through their existing internet banking platforms.
## How POLi Works
When a customer selects POLi at checkout, they are redirected to the POLi payment page where they choose their bank. POLi then opens a secure connection to the customer's online banking portal. The customer logs into their bank as they normally would, and POLi pre-fills the payment details (amount, reference, recipient). The customer simply confirms the payment, and the merchant receives instant confirmation that the payment has been initiated.
## Market Position
POLi fills an important niche in the Australian and New Zealand payment landscape, particularly for consumers who prefer not to use credit cards or don't have one. It's especially popular for online gambling and gaming deposits, government payments, utility bills, and insurance premiums. The service supports all major Australian banks including Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, Westpac, NAB, and most New Zealand banks.
## Fees and Settlement
POLi charges merchants per transaction, typically AUD $1-2, which is significantly lower than credit card processing fees for higher-value transactions. There are no fees for consumers. Settlement follows the standard bank transfer timeline — while the merchant receives instant confirmation, actual fund settlement takes 1-2 business days through normal banking channels.
## Limitations
POLi requires the customer to have internet banking enabled, which excludes some demographics. The payment experience involves a redirect flow that some customers may find less seamless than card payments. Additionally, POLi's market reach is limited to Australia and New Zealand, and the service doesn't support recurring payments or refunds through the POLi system directly.
## Security
POLi operates as a read-only overlay on the bank's secure website. It does not store banking credentials or have access to modify account details. All transactions occur within the bank's own security environment, leveraging the bank's existing authentication and encryption protocols.
