With Prime Minister Rudd calling on Australians to build a national savings culture, the limelight shines optimistically on superannuation as a means to prepare financially for the future. And this proposal certainly includes increasing voluntary contributions.

"Our research indicates that customers are looking for convenient and simple payment choices - and this means an electronic option," says BPAY General Manager, Andrew Arnott. "This consumer trend is particularly relevant to superannuation funds that want to encourage their members to make additional contributions."

"With 70 per cent of bill payers having used BPAY in the past 12 months, Australians are familiar and comfortable with the service."

REST is one superannuation provider that is making the most of this familiarity to engage with its typically young members who have grown up with the Internet.

"Convenience and access are the drivers that encourage our members to connect with us," says REST CEO Damian Hill. "BPAY offers the simplicity and immediacy that facilitates individual member payments, which is particularly important for those who benefit from the government's co-contribution program."

Late last year, REST implemented a member competition to promote BPAY as its preferred payment method. BPAY payments by individual members rose significantly during this four-month marketing period, a level that has grown even more post-competition.

"We believe BPAY is the easiest way for our members to make voluntary contributions ? so much so that we include BPAY payment details, such as our biller code and a member's customer reference number on our membership cards."

REST is among the 263 different super funds that offer BPAY. With its biller database growing by the day, BPAY is no longer simply a vehicle for paying 'recurring' bills such as the gas and electricity. Voluntary superannuation contributions are one of 15,500 payments that can be made via BPAY.