Curtin University Simplifies Student Payments

Curtin University uses CommBank’s BPOINT platform integrated with xetta payment platform to power seamless student payments.

From tuition to short courses, 95% of student payments are made online. Since making the switch to BPOINT, the university has reduced manual reconciliation enabled secure refunds and become empowered to explore future improvements. 

Curtin is fully equipped with a future-ready payment experience, backed by robust security and governance practices.

“BPOINT is incredibly reliable. We trust it to do exactly what it needs to do, every time.”
– Adeline Yanuar, Manager of Transactions, Curtin University

As one of Australia’s most globally connected universities, Curtin is no stranger to change. With thousands of students logging in every day to pay tuition, enrol in short courses, and settle miscellaneous fees, the university’s financial operations demand more than reliability—they require seamless integration, global accessibility and uncompromising security.

Curtin has partnered with CommBank’s BPOINT and xetta platforms, to meet these demands, enabling an end-to-end student payment experience that’s intuitive, efficient and evolving with the times.

A seamless, student-first experience

Curtin’s goal is simple: make payments as easy as possible—so students can focus on learning, not logistics.

Instead of issuing invoices, Curtin empowers students to log in to their portal, view their tuition balance in real time, and pay directly through the xetta gateway using BPOINT. Whether it’s course fees or other costs, the platform handles a wide variety of payments, automatically matching them to existing student records.

“It’s a pull system. Students don’t wait for a bill—they log in, enter their ID, and the portal tells them what they owe,” says Adeline.

Refunds are just as easy. If a student pays too much or cancels a course, a refund can be automatically processed back to the original payment method—without the need for manual reconciliation.

Reducing friction, increasing trust

With a global student base, Curtin places a premium on payment accessibility and inclusion. The university accepts credit card payments from anywhere in the world, including by overseas family members on behalf of students.

Such flexibility comes with security challenges. To prevent fraud and unauthorised activity, Curtin has implemented advanced controls like CAPTCHA, velocity monitoring and internal alerts to flag suspicious behaviour. 

Despite increasing industry interest in 3D Secure (3DS), Curtin is taking a measured approach. With BPOINT, Curtin’s team is fully enabled to swiftly resolve issues, minimise disruption and prevent recurring issues.

“We want to protect our students—but we’re also careful not to add friction that could cause them to abandon payment altogether,” says Adeline.

Operational visibility at scale

Adeline’s 40-person team handles thousands of transactions daily. BPOINT’s integration with xetta allows most processes to run automatically, but daily reconciliation with BPAY still requires a manual check due to timing mismatches in settlement.

It’s not a major blocker—but Curtin is already thinking ahead.

“Our dream scenario? Real-time reconciliation, where everything syncs as payments are made. No imports. No delays. Just clean data in real time.”

Exploring the future of campus payments

“It’s not just about processing payments. It’s about helping Curtin shape better experiences across the board. We're here to understand what's working and where we can help future-proof their approach" Matthew Dann, Associate Director, Account Management at CommBank.

Curtin’s commitment to payment innovation doesn’t stop at tuition. The university is piloting reloadable prepaid cards to handle per diem and other low-value expenditures for non-staff - replacing cash with secure, trackable digital disbursements.

They’re also actively exploring PayTo, mobile wallets, and alternative payment options like Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) to ensure students can pay in a way that suits them.

“It’s about being ready—not just for where students are today, but where they’re going.”

The impact so far

• 99.99% legitimate payment success rate across BPOINT and xetta
• Automated refunds and no-fuss reconciliation reduce manual workload
• Global payments accepted without regional blocking
• New prepaid card pilot for faster, cashless student disbursements
• Future-focused mindset embracing PayTo, 3DS, and digital innovation

An evolving education landscape

Looking ahead, Curtin is proving that finance can be a source of agility—not friction. By simplifying the student experience and embracing innovation in payments, they’re helping shape a smarter future for universities everywhere.