What is EFTPOS?
EFTPOS stands for Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale. It is Australia's local debit card payment system. It's operated by eftpos Payments Australia Limited and processes over 2 billion transactions annually, connecting directly to your bank account for instant payments.
EFTPOS Payment Integration with Pratham POS
Make in-store payments faster and more reliable with our real-time EFTPOS integration. No more double-entry or manual matching—Pratham POS automatically syncs each card payment directly to your sales records, speeding up checkout and reducing errors.
Tyro EFTPOS
Experience lightning-fast, reliable payments with Tyro. Perfect for busy environments requiring quick turnarounds and seamless deposits
Know MoreANZ Worldline
Enhance customer trust with ANZ Worldline’s secure transactions. Ideal for businesses wanting a bank-backed, user-friendly payment solution.
Know MoreNuvei Payments
Accept fast, secure payments with Nuvei. Ideal for high-traffic businesses needing quick transactions, flexible payment options, and reliable settlements.
Know MoreQuick Facts
- Australia's domestic debit network, operating since the mid-1980s
- Run today by Australian Payments Plus (AP+), the merged entity behind eftpos, BPAY and NPP
- Typically the lowest-cost way to accept debit taps via least-cost routing
- Accepted virtually everywhere in Australia, from majors to corner shops
EFTPOS vs. Other Payment Methods
EFTPOS vs. Debit Cards
While all EFTPOS cards are debit cards, not all debit cards are EFTPOS cards. The main difference is that EFTPOS is a domestic system, while cards like Visa Debit or Mastercard Debit can be used internationally. EFTPOS is not affiliated with Visa or Mastercard - it's Australia's own system.
Cost Comparison
EFTPOS typically has lower merchant fees compared to Visa or Mastercard:
- EFTPOS: Average merchant fee of 0.1-0.3%
- Visa/Mastercard: Average merchant fee of 0.8-1.5%
How an Integrated EFTPOS Sale Works
With Pratham POS connected to your terminal, a sale takes four steps and no re-keying:
- The sale total is sent from the POS straight to the terminal — nothing is typed twice
- Your customer taps or inserts their card (PIN applies over the contactless limit)
- The terminal approves the payment and the POS records it against the sale automatically
- End-of-day settlement reconciles in your reports without manual matching
Note: Integration is what removes mis-keyed amounts — the most common cause of EFTPOS disputes and end-of-day discrepancies.
Advantages
- Lower transaction fees for merchants
- Direct access to your bank account
- Widely accepted across Australia
- Works without internet (backup systems)
- No credit card debt risk
- Real-time transaction processing
Disadvantages
- Limited to domestic use
- No rewards programs
- May have daily transaction limits
- Cannot be used for international online purchases
- Some merchants may add surcharges
Keeping Your Processing Costs Down
As a merchant, a few settings make a real difference to what EFTPOS costs you:
- Least-cost routing: Route eligible tap payments through the EFTPOS network instead of the card schemes to lower your per-transaction fees
- Integrated terminals: Sending the amount from the POS removes re-keying errors, which are a common source of costly refunds and disputes
- Surcharging done right: If you surcharge, keep it within your actual cost of acceptance to stay compliant with RBA rules
- Review your statement: Plans change. Compare your effective rate yearly against what providers like Tyro and Nuvei currently offer
Technology Partners
EFTPOS works with several technology partners to provide payment solutions:
- Linkly: A leading provider of payment integration solutions, offering secure and reliable EFTPOS connectivity
- mx51: Provides modern payment technology solutions and integration services for EFTPOS systems
Security Information
What keeps integrated payments secure for your business:
- PCI DSS compliance: Card data is handled by the certified payment terminal, never stored in the POS
- End-to-end encryption: Payment details are encrypted from tap to settlement
- PIN and contactless limits: Bank-enforced customer verification protects you from disputed transactions
- Clean audit trail: Every payment is matched to a POS sale, so disputes can be answered with records rather than memory.
Future-Ready Payments
EFTPOS isn’t going anywhere. In fact, it’s continually evolving with support for contactless, digital wallets, and innovative payment methods on the horizon. Integrating EFTPOS with Pratham POS positions your business to stay ahead in the ever-changing world of payments.
Ready to Start with $0*?
If you’re ready to simplify your payment process and offer a more convenient checkout experience, reach out to us at Pratham POS. Our local Australian team can set you up with the perfect EFTPOS solution with the trusted EFTPOS provider. We’ll handle the tech while you focus on growing your business.
The October 2026 surcharge ban: what your venue needs to do
From 1 October 2026, surcharging eftpos transactions is banned. The eftpos network has confirmed a zero-surcharge limit from that date, and the Reserve Bank has flagged going further by removing surcharges across debit and credit cards. If your venue currently passes card fees on to customers, that model is ending — and "zero-cost EFTPOS" plans that depend on surcharging are ending with it.
What to do before October:
- Reprice, don't absorb silently. Build your average cost of acceptance into menu and shelf prices now, rather than taking the hit to margin in October.
- Turn on least-cost routing. Routing eligible contactless debit taps through the eftpos network instead of the international schemes typically lowers your per-transaction cost — the legitimate way to reduce fees once you can no longer surcharge. Ask your provider to enable it.
- Re-quote your rates. Providers are repositioning ahead of the ban. Compare your effective rate against current Tyro, ANZ Worldline and Nuvei offers for your volume — we can run that comparison with you on 1300 941 886.
- Check your terminal setup. Integrated EFTPOS removes mis-keyed amounts and disputed charges — costs that matter more when every basis point comes out of your margin.
Tyro vs ANZ Worldline vs Nuvei: which integrated EFTPOS suits your venue?
Pratham POS has dedicated integrations for all three, so this comparison has no thumb on the scale — whichever you choose, the POS sends the sale total straight to the terminal and your end-of-day reconciles automatically. The differences are in fit:
| Tyro | ANZ Worldline | Nuvei | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Hospitality and retail venues that want a dedicated EFTPOS specialist | Businesses that want big-bank backing and one banking relationship | Venues that prioritise fast settlement and payment rewards |
| Standout | 21+ years in Australian payments; used by 68,000+ businesses; Pay@Table | ANZ's merchant-payments joint venture with Worldline's global platform | Same-day settlement options; Velocity Points on eligible transactions** |
| Pricing model | Plans including a No-Cost EFTPOS option (eligibility criteria apply) | Quoted to your business through ANZ Worldline | Quoted to your business through Nuvei |
| With Pratham POS | Amount sent from the POS — nothing re-keyed; payments reconcile against sales automatically; you keep your merchant agreement with the provider | ||
**Subject to the provider's current eligibility criteria and terms — confirm details with the provider when you compare quotes. Rates change; the right answer depends on your turnover and card mix, which is exactly what a quote comparison shows.
EFTPOS integration with your POS
EFTPOS integration means your POS sends the sale amount straight to the payment terminal instead of a staff member keying it in. That removes the single most common cause of a mis-charged transaction, and makes end-of-day reconciliation match without manual checking.
Why integrated beats standalone
No double entry. The amount is sent, not typed, so a transposed digit cannot happen.
Faster at the counter. One action instead of two shortens every card sale, which compounds across a busy service.
Reconciliation that matches. Sales and settlements line up against the same records, so a discrepancy is a real one worth investigating.
Providers we integrate with
Pratham POS integrates with 18+ Australian EFTPOS providers, including ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, NAB, Tyro, Zeller and Verifone. In most cases you keep your existing merchant agreement and rates — you are changing the POS, not the bank.
We have dedicated integrations for Tyro, ANZ Worldline and Nuvei.