ANZ has been accused by its big four rivals of "pulling a fast one" when it walked away from a world-first effort to make Apple let iPhone users access contactless payments via the banks' own apps.
Commonwealth Bank, National Australia Bank and Westpac have asked the competition watchdog for permission to negotiate jointly with Apple in the hope of getting the US tech giant to discuss opening up the tap-and-pay technology to iPhone apps other than its own Apple Pay.
ANZ had initially lined up for what Lance Blockley, spokesman for the applicant banks, said was the first attempt anywhere by banks to negotiate en masse with Apple, but then changed tack and joined with Apple Pay.
"One of the applicants was ANZ Bank," Mr Blockley, a senior advisor with financial advisory firm Novantas, said on Wednesday.
"They chose to pull a fast one on their competitors and their joint applicants earlier this year when they withdrew from the group of applicants and decided to negotiate separately with Apple."
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The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has a month to decide whether to allow the joint negotiations.
ANZ launched its partnership with Apple to much fanfare in April, trumpeting the fact that the bank was the only one in Australia to offer Apple Pay.
Some ANZ American Express and Visa card holders can make payments by tapping their iPhones on payment terminals, but only through Apple Pay.
CBA, Westpac and NAB, along with regional lender Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, say Apple's refusal to allow any other app access the NFC (near field communication) chip in iPhones restricts consumer choice, transparency and innovation across the industry.
It also denies access to apps for loyalty programs such as Wesfarmers' Flybuys or Qantas Points.
Mr Blockley pointed out Apple lets non-native apps access bluetooth and wi-fi, and contrasted its walled garden approach to payments to that of rival Google on its Android operating system.
"The banks have chosen not to take on the issue of whether that is or is not anti-competitive behaviour. Instead they have chosen to negotiate with Apple to get open access," Mr Blockley said.
"Firstly we've got to get Apple to the negotiating table - they may refuse to come - and once they're at the table they may refuse to negotiate."
Mr Blockley said the banks want to resolve the issue before Sydney's Opal transport system opens up next year to allow direct payment with debit and credit cards.
"It's very hard to use your wallet because, if you have more than one card in there, the antennae clash and the touchpad doesn't know which card you want to use," Mr Blockley said.
"On a phone, there's only one antenna and you can choose which is your default card. In London, there's been a significant uptake in people using their phones to tap on and off."
ANZ did not respond to a request for comment, while CBA, Westpac and NAB declined to add to Mr Blockley's comments.
