Banking apps; Windows Phone's real Achilles heel (in the UK at least)

***** Instagram, ***** Path and uber f**k market share. The real litmus test for a consumer mobile OS is banking apps as Banks are notoriously slow adopters of new tech, so it would be great if we can use this post to track all the banking apps (or ways to contact banks who haven't made one yet)

I'll start with the state of the UK banks, if you guys can post the links to your local banks (with contact links and the country) and I'll add them to this post.

UK


HSBC (@HSBC_UK_Help)

"Hi (my name), we don't have any plans at the moment, thanks for your suggestion. keep an eye on our website for updates ^DR"

Natwest (@natwest_help, app link)

They've released the app, linked above.

LloydsTSB (@askLloydsTSB)

"Hi, I'm CH. We’re looking at ways to improve Mobile Banking for customers across different devices. No solid plans though. 1/2"

Santander (@santanderukhelp)

"Hi (my name), A compatible app is currently being tested by Santander and will be released very soon. ^NM"

Barclays (@barclaysonline)

" Hi (my name). We’re currently monitoring the growth of the Windows Phone OS. We’ll let you know when we have any more news. ^DN"

RBS (@RBS_Help, app link)

See Natwest

Halifax (@askhalifaxbank)

"Hi, I'm GJ. Although we’re always investigating ways to improve Mobile Banking for customers, we have no solid plans yet, sorry. 1/2"

Nationwide (@AskNationwide)

No plans.

Smile (Co-op, smile.co.uk - the internet bank)

Awaiting response.

First Direct (@firstdirecthelp)

"Hi - thanks for your request. I've passed this on to our Development team who monitor all suggestions for changes. Thanks again"

ING Direct UK (@INGdirectuk)

They don't offer apps for any platform, only a mobile optimised site.

New Zealand

Kiwibank (@KiwibankNZ)

"Hi, sorry, no plans right now. Currently less than 1% of our web traffic comes from Windows phones. If that increases considerably, we'd consider making a Windows app. ^RM"

Canada

National Bank (of Canada) (@nationalbank)

No plans

RBC (@RBC)

No plans

TD (Canada) (@td_canada)

No plans

Scotia Bank (@scotiahelps)

No plans

Bank of Montreal (@bmo)

No plans

Canadian Bank Of Imperial Commerce (@cibc)

No plans

Apps are one thing and can be worked around using internet on the phone. NFC capability should be first on the list, let me pay for my McDonalds breakfast with my phone!!!

I actually messaged Nationwide on Facebook the other day, responded;

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Hi , thanks for your interest. We don't have any immediate plans however we are currently watching the market with interest, thanks ^LM

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NFC would be nice but you need a certain SIM card so it's more of a carrier thing.

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Originally Posted by Jealy666

I actually messaged Nationwide on Facebook the other day, responded;




NFC would be nice but you need a certain SIM card so it's more of a carrier thing.

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Ahh Nationwide, I forgot about them, can you post the Facebook URL?

NFC is awesome but still a fringe technology, I think if Apple adds NFC to the Iphone 5S/6 we'll a definite increase in NFC accessories etc though.

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Originally Posted by Metrosity

Ahh Nationwide, I forgot about them, can you post the Facebook URL?

NFC is awesome but still a fringe technology, I think if Apple adds NFC to the Iphone 5S/6 we'll a definite increase in NFC accessories etc though.

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I already contacted Nationwide, they have no plans for a WP version, as for RBS, they will have their banking app released at the same time as NatWest.

I tweeted Tsb and got that same response, i may try Halifax but Tsb own them so may get a similar response
Sent from my Nokia Lumia 620 using Board Express

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Originally Posted by Jealy666

I actually messaged Nationwide on Facebook the other day, responded;




NFC would be nice but you need a certain SIM card so it's more of a carrier thing.

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Thought NFC transactions would have been more of a bank thing - like linking the wallet function on WP8 with debit card details to the nfc readers that are already available - i know Barclays already have those tags you can use. I would have thought it would only be a carrier thing if you were doing stuff like topping up your phone if you were on PAYG or adding more data.

Maybe im mistaken and have got confused somewhere along the way.

Just tweeted Halifax Banking UK to ask if they are producing an app as the platform is rapidly growing in the UK.
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Thanks for all the comments guys, as far as I'm concerned whoever releases an app first gets my custom. Any other Europeans, Americans want to chip in about their banks?

Ive just send an email to smile (co-op) in the UK as they have an app for the three other mobile platforms, but not Windows phone.

First Direct:
"Hi - thanks for your request. I've passed this on to our Development team who monitor all suggestions for changes. Thanks again" (from their suggestion pages) - A meaningless statement really.
and
"Hi. We are not currently developing an App for Windows phones but it may be something we may implement in the future. ^MG" (via twitter)

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Originally Posted by Gorki247

First Direct: "Hi - thanks for your request. I've passed this on to our Development team who monitor all suggestions for changes. Thanks again"

A meaningless statement really.

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Yeah, those canned statements are utterly useless. I'll add First Direct to the post, cheers.

I've been badgering First Direct about it as well. Would also be nice if energy suppliers - British Gas, eon would follow suit. I am tempted to get an iPod touch just for the apps! Can use me 920 as hotspot and tether! Apps appear on iOS first, then Android and then maybe WP! Shame really as I think the OS would gain serious traction if more companies released apps quickly rather than "monitoring market share".

@BPuk Agreed; I contacted British Gas about their app a while ago, but they said they had (at the time) no plans for a WP app. This was before WP8 however, so I don't know if they changed their stance since (although I doubt it). I was hoping that Windows 8 would get these businesses to develop for the platform and at the same time WP8.

It's just a real slow process with businesses unfortunately. I did notice that all the British Gas engineers that have visited my house all used iPhones!

Just ordered a card on moonpig and thought I'd check to see what apps are available and only iPhone and Android :(

I would love a banking app, in fact, I can't understand why MS don't offer huge assistance to certain staples. For example, get the banks, supermarkets, cinemas, and chains if other big names involved and the rest will follow.

Just been to put a comment on RBS website. There are a few on there already. I added mine too.

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Originally Posted by peachy001

I would love a banking app, in fact, I can't understand why MS don't offer huge assistance to certain staples. For example, get the banks, supermarkets, cinemas, and chains if other big names involved and the rest will follow.

Just been to put a comment on RBS website. There are a few on there already. I added mine too.

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This so much, seriously, forgot the instagrams of the world and focus on the important apps i.e banking apps etc. Patient waiting is all we can do for the moment, it took ages when Android first started getting consumer acceptance and it'll be the same for Windows Phone.

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Me to my bank Do you have any plans for a windows phone 8 app ??

Kiwibank Hi , sorry, no plans right now. Currently less than 1% of our web traffic comes from Windows phones. If that increases considerably, we'd consider making a Windows app. ^RM

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This is the response i got from my bank, its a bit short sighted.

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Originally Posted by bozza72

This is the response i got from my bank, its a bit short sighted.

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It is short sighted. The percentage of web traffic will be small as it can be a pain logging into your banks website using phone browser. I only log into first direct as a last resort using mobly.

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Originally Posted by BPuk

It is short sighted. The percentage of web traffic will be small as it can be a pain logging into your banks website using phone browser. I only log into first direct as a last resort using mobly.

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Oh definitely short sighted, the mobile site for most banks (except Barclays which has a pretty damn good one) is not sufficient at all. I understand that they want a ROI if they build an app for Windows Phone but surely catering to all their customers regardless of the device they use should ultimately be the main goal for a bank, no?

I'm seriously considering changing banks because of this. If NatWest releases their app fairly soon, and it's at the same level as the iOS and Android apps, and there is still no progress from my current bank, it will be time to look at a new bank.

I hate it when bank's say they're looking at the market share of an operating system. That shouldn't concern them; what should is their customers and if there just a handful that use Windows Phones, those are just as important and should be catered for.

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Originally Posted by Gorki247

I'm seriously considering changing banks because of this. If NatWest releases their app fairly soon, and it's at the same level as the iOS and Android apps, and there is still no progress from my current bank, it will be time to look at a new bank.

I hate it when bank's say they're looking at the market share of an operating system. That shouldn't concern them; what should is their customers and if there just a handful that use Windows Phones, those are just as important and should be catered for.

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I'm doing the same thing, to me, a bank who embraces new tech readily shows me that they are a forward thinking company and worthy of my custom; Personally, I'm looking at Santander so far as I've seen the Spanish banking app they have in the Store which fully embraces Metro rather than wrapping the mobile site in a app like other banks have done.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gorki247

I'm seriously considering changing banks because of this. If NatWest releases their app fairly soon, and it's at the same level as the iOS and Android apps, and there is still no progress from my current bank, it will be time to look at a new bank.

I hate it when bank's say they're looking at the market share of an operating system. That shouldn't concern them; what should is their customers and if there just a handful that use Windows Phones, those are just as important and should be catered for.

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I am with RBS, I posted a question to them yesterday. They have responded saying one is planned for the early part of the year. They had a fair few requests on their site.

I would urge all others to do the same with their bank, don't assume they are working on it.

Think the banks are to busy paying people there money back from ripping them off with there Ppi than to spend money making customers happy with there banking services.

All you get is pathetic answers back when you contact them and only interested in making money not spending it 😈
Sent from my Nokia Lumia 620 using Board Express

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Originally Posted by nokiageek

Think the banks are to busy paying people there money back from ripping them off with there Ppi than to spend money making customers happy with there banking services.

All you get is pathetic answers back when you contact them and only interested in making money not spending it 😈
Sent from my Nokia Lumia 620 using Board Express

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bombard the devils with requests.... It will work. Plus, keeps the sods on their toes!