Mobile Banking

Mobile Banking Updates - Jan 26

noreply@blogger.com (brandon@bmcgee.com) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:58:00 +0000

CIBC the first bank in Canada to deliver a mobile version of its website featuring advice and information for clients
"CIBC has introduced a new, mobile version of CIBC.com, allowing Canadians with a smartphone to view advice and information on the site through a new client interface that perfectly fits the site onto the screen of their mobile device. The new site is another innovation as part of CIBC's leadership position in mobile financial services for Canadians, having launched the first mobile banking App in Canada in 2010, and becoming the first bank in Canada to launch a mobile stock trading App in 2011."

First Fidelity Bank launches mobile deposit app
"First Fidelity Bank, a locally owned full-service community bank, has launched a mobile application that allows business and personal banking clients to make deposits using their smartphones. The bank is the only Oklahoma-owned bank and one of a handful of banks nationwide to launch a mobile deposit app."

Tips for 2012: Top EMV Ignition Strategies and Mobile Security Solutions
"Mobile Security - Although discussions of mobile payment security have long focused on security at the physical POS, the real story for mobile security in 2012 will be how to better secure the hundreds of billions of dollars of financial transactions that are already taking place via mobile handsets."

UK Consumers Willing to Pay £4.20 per Month for Digital Banking, says PwC
"Consumers in the UK would be willing to pay around £4.20 a month for digital banking services, according to a survey from PricewaterhouseCoopers. 66 per cent, meanwhile, would be willing to pay for a Twitter or Facebook notification of a transaction.
The New Digital Tipping Point predicts that digital banking will overtake branch networks as the main way that customers deal with their banks by 2015. Emerging markets are "leapfrogging" online banking, the report claims, and going straight to mobile."

The Hard Cell-Time to Invest in Mobile Sales
"Mobile banking is no longer coming. It is already happening. Every major UK bank now offers a reasonable service for multiple platforms. Core online banking functionality has been replicated. Consumer adoption of the channel is high. Great job everyone, right? Unfortunately not...One of the consequences of all this growth is that mobile banking users are moving away from using traditional channels; channels that currently offer greater opportunity to cross-sell products and services. Because most banks offer little to no sales capability on their mobile banking service, a big sales gap is beginning to emerge. It’s time for banks to sort out their mobile sales strategy."

Mobile Banking Updates - Jan 25

noreply@blogger.com (brandon@bmcgee.com) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 02:53:00 +0000

Obopay Partners With Warid Telecom to Launch Warid Pesa in Uganda
"Obopay, a leading mobile banking and payment solution provider globally, today announced its collaboration with Warid Telecom, an Abu Dhabi Group company. Together the companies are set to launch a mobile banking and payment service, Warid Pesa, in Uganda. Launched in the wake of growing demand for mobile payments in Uganda, Warid Pesa provides a prepaid account that enables customers to perform e-money transactions, pay for goods and services as well as settle accounts."

The Value Of Mobile Payments Is Beyond Transactions
"All of this comes at a time when there is no single standard for new mobile payments technology. Isis and Google are backing conflicting versions of the same technology (Near Field Communications, or NFC), and equally significant players like PayPal are going entirely different directions with cloud-based (rather than hardware-based) mobile payment initiatives. Square and Intuit have circumvented the traditional payments network with their own respective additions to the transactional process (Square’s reader and Intuit’s GoPayment device)."

Help Desks Face Increasing Pressure to Support Mobile Banking
"Support desk staff are likely to find themselves under increased pressure from customers and co-workers needing assistants with mobile banking, with a study from Juniper finding that the number of people using the channel will almost double by 2013. The finance sector has been one of the pioneers of internet and more recently mobile service provision, meaning that trends it follows are likely to be mirrored by other industries at a later date."

FTSI Announces New Professional Services Division For Credit Unions and Community Banks
"FTSI, the leader in independent, self-service technology solutions in the Western region, is debuting six new professional services for credit unions and community banks. These new services complement FTSI's core competencies: ATM product sales, maintenance services and cash management. The new services, which offer financial institutions cost effective technology solutions that drive savings to the bottom line, have been developed based on FTSI's industry expertise and fostering relationships with key partners."

Mobile Banking Updates - Jan 24

noreply@blogger.com (brandon@bmcgee.com) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:46:00 +0000

City Bank Offers Mobile App That Disables Debit Card
"City Bank is upgrading its mobile banking capabilities to compete with larger banks, always a concern for smaller institutions. At the same time, the $1.9 billion-asset bank, which serves a region surrounding Lubbock, Texas, is also experimenting with security applications for mobile devices that can be used to shield non-mobile channels."

Mobile banking explodes
"First National Bank (FNB) announced on Wednesday that its Cellphone Banking channel processed in excess of 25 million transactions in December 2011 with a transaction value of over R2.7-billion, compared to R1.7-billion seen in December 2010. The bank has more than 3.5 million Cellphone Banking users. Ravesh Ramlakan, CEO FNB Cellphone Banking Solutions, said the growth of the service was due to its simplicity and the convenience that it offered customers. "

The Rich Role of Mobile Phones in Financial Inclusion
"The mobile phone has become a useful tool in tackling the financial access deficit in many countries. M-PESA in Kenya has shown that adoption curves typical of new information-based technologies (radio,TV, mobiles, internet) can be applied to financial services. Yet M-PESA-like mobile payment schemes have only scratched the surface of what is possible. The typical mobile money user still uses it only a couple of times a month."

Over 250,000 Logins of National Bank's Mobile Banking Solutions in Less Than 2 Months
"National Bank is proud to announce that over 250,000 logins have been registered to its Mobile Banking Solutions since the application was launched on November 19. Just as they already do with their computer, clients with smartphones (iPhone(R), Blackberry(R)1 and Android(TM)) can now, through the m.nbc.ca mobile site, view their account balances, pay their bills, manage the limits of their Client Card and transfer funds from one account to another, not only at National Bank, but using Interac e-Transfer(R)2, to any personal account in a participating Canadian financial institution. "

HSBC Canada mobile banking app for iPhone now available
"Majority of our Canadian banks have a mobile banking app – CIBC, TD, RBC, ING – and now HSBC. If you bank with HSBC and have an iPhone you can download the app for free. The app has similar features as the other banks, offers the ability to view your account information and transaction history, pay bills, transfer funds, check exchange rates, locate ATMs and “Send and receive secure messages”. No word on a BlackBerry, Windows Phone or an Android app."

Mobile Banking Updates - Jan 23

noreply@blogger.com (brandon@bmcgee.com) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:17:00 +0000

Mobile Banking Service Adoption to Reach Over Half a Billion Users by 2013 Despite Economic Downturn
"Despite the challenging economic climate and threat of further global recession, a new report from Juniper Research finds that mobile banking users worldwide will reach 530 million by 2013, up from just over 300 million in 2011. Indeed, Juniper finds that mobile services are becoming a fundamental component of banks' business strategies as they respond to the current financial crisis."

Large Banks Slowly Building Corporate Mobile Apps: Survey
"The growth of mobile banking for corporate users has lagged that of consumer users, mostly because the specialized use case for corporate clients is harder to sell. But this is gradually changing, according to new research from Celent."

The Intersection of Mobile Banking and Payments: It’s About the User
"At the start of last year, Forrester Research predicted that mobile banking adoption would stall if financial institutions didn't begin implementing differentiated capabilities unique to the mobile channel. Mobile payments are one such capability and are steadily becoming a focal point in the race for mainstream adoption of mobile banking."

Protect your smartphone and tablet from identity theft
"Every week more people are buying smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices. And every week thieves are lurking to steal those gadgets — along with your banking and other personal information. According to Internet marketing researcher comScore, more than 32 million Americans used a mobile device to manage bank accounts during the second quarter of 2011 — about 14 percent of all mobile users in the United States. That’s up 21 percent from the last quarter of 2010, and experts predict continued growth as companies improve their mobile apps."

Mobile phone money transfers 'two years away'
"It's rumoured that bank customers should be able to transfer money to someone else's account using just their mobile phone within two years, as reported by The Financial Times. The Payments Council has been asked to help speed up bank money transfers. Its mobile money transfer plans could, in theory, make bank transfers easier and faster for mobile phone users."

UPLEX Global Launches Powerful Secondary Loan Market

noreply@blogger.com (brandon@bmcgee.com) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:14:00 +0000

Indianapolis, IN – Paul J. Giefing, CEO and Founder of UPLEX Global, today announced the release of a powerful, global, online secondary loan market to allow banks, credit unions, private investors and numerous other financial institutions to efficiently and affordably trade whole loans, loan portfolios and loan participations.

“I’ve found that the old way of buying and selling loans and portfolios has simply become too expensive and time consuming, especially during these challenging economic times,” said Giefing. “With UPLEX Global, we’ve truly changed the way the way secondary markets work by offering an online ‘broker-less’, paperless platform to efficiently and securely manage loan portfolios. Our technology allows financial firms to maximize time and make more money by putting them in total control of their own portfolios.”

UPLEX Global’s platform leverages the latest in technology to make buying and selling assets easy, efficient and at a fraction of the cost of traditional transactions. The platform uses an active, sealed-bid auction system, so that sellers can entertain countless offers on a single asset to maximize their time and ability to get the most for the loan.

Buyers using UPLEX Global’s platform have access to a marketplace that includes a wide variety of quality assets from across the globe as well as the analytical tools to provide the information necessary to make the best decision for their portfolios.

“We’ve successfully removed the middle man, allowing sellers to provide access to loan information directly to qualified buyers, and buyers to search for exactly the type of assets they desire,” said Giefing. “Through a growing network of financial institutions and investors from all over the world, buyers and sellers now have easy access to a liquid market fueled by global demand.”

During the initial release, UPLEX Global is offering a one-time, 18-month free trial period for new subscribers. To find out more about UPLEX Global or to register to join the network, visit www.uplexglobal.com or call 888.768.6564, ext 10.

Members of the media are invited to participate in an online tutorial for a first-hand look at UPLEX Global’s platform. To arrange an online, interactive demonstration of the platform, please contact Andrew Flach at aflach@uplexglobal.com.

Mobile Banking Updates - Jan 19

noreply@blogger.com (brandon@bmcgee.com) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:42:00 +0000

Finextra and Mobey Forum to stage European mobile banking and payments conference
"An influential panel of senior executives, practitioners and key stakeholders from across the mobile banking industry will gather in Barcelona on 21 March to debate the key issues facing banks, telecoms carriers and handset manufacturers as they bid to provide smartphone-toting consumers with a new generation of mobile banking and payments apps."

Citibank loads up on mobile banking apps
"Citibank is offering ease in accessing one’s credit card and bank accounts right in the comfort of your own home or office, in fact anywhere and anytime through Citibank Online, or the mobile banking application for Android phones or Citi Mobile Payments. Keep track of bank accounts, pay bills, transfer funds, view electronic statements and experience superior online banking services without having to go to the bank through Citibank Online."

Credit Unions Gear Up for Mobile Banking Explosion
"With the number of consumers turning to electronic methods for banking on the rise, credit union experts are predicting that mobile banking will experience radical growth over the next few years. Smartphone users listen up--keeping in touch with your credit union has never been easier as more credit unions add mobile banking to their menu of services. Many mobile banking offerings provide both web and text-based applications, often in real time; making online banking on-the-go a snap."

WESTconsin Goes Mobile
"The $731 million WESTconsin Credit Union of Menomonie, Wis., is now offering mobile banking service to its 67,400 members. The service is through Intuit Financial Services and includes balances, history, transfers and bill payment for smart phones with Web browsers, and balances and transaction checking through SMS text banking."

In Mobile-Online Banking Match Up, No O.K. Corral Shootout Foreseen
"Call mobile banking vs. online banking the face-off that isn’t. That is the word from IT experts as they forecast how, and with what, we will conduct our financial transactions in 2012. And for those who had been wondering if they could downplay, maybe even terminate, online banking as more people adopt smartphones, the sharp answer is, don’t even think about that."

Making the Most of Mobile Banking
"Innovations in the banking industry move at a tortoise pace. Think of what were arguably the breakthroughs in banking technology – the automated teller machine and debit cards – and you're talking about "new" products introduced, respectively, in 1967 and 1984."

Mobile Banking For Customers, snom VoIP Phones, Customer Speech Analytics, Data Center Networks
"Smartphones are growing just as rapidly in Britain as anywhere else... well, maybe not as rapidly as South Korea, but pretty rapidly. They’re ahead of Germany but not quite up to France. And there’s a market for mobile banking via smartphone, although Brits aren’t the most gung-ho when it comes to banking via mobile. Nevertheless, Halifax and the Royal Bank of Scotland see opportunities there, as each have launched mobile banking apps to help customers manage their accounts on-the-go."

Mobile Banking Updates - Jan 18

noreply@blogger.com (brandon@bmcgee.com) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 01:36:00 +0000

A revolution coming in corporate mobile banking
"The corporate mobile banking market has matured quite a bit, and a slew of new devices, cheaper data plans, and faster networks are upon us. Business mobile users have the opportunity to take advantage of rich and powerful mobile banking services, provided their bank has an offering, according to a recent report from Celent. Key findings of the report include:"

Emerging Markets Mobile Banking Runs Ahead Of Google Wallet
"Mobile phones have changed banking faster in emerging markets than in developed countries, so they may provide an indication of where hot tech like the Google Wallet might go if it ever catches up with South Africa, Kenya or Bangladesh. Banks in emerging markets are using mobile phones to extend their services to existing customers and to provide banking connectivity to individuals with no previous banking relationship."

Challenges for lenders with mobile banking
"Banks must keep up with technological developments to make it easier for their customers to use mobile banking, while regulators have to overcome concerns about privacy and security, says professional services firm KPMG. In a new report that has implications for SA’s banks, KPMG said last week that the rapid adoption of mobile banking was changing relationships among banks, retailers and telecoms providers."

IBC BANK ENHANCES ITS MOBILE BANKING OFFERINGS
"IBC Bank has expanded its mobile banking program by adding Bill Pay functionality to IBC Mobile. The service is accessible via www.ibc.mobi from any device that can connect to the Web -- including all Androids, Blackberries, and iPhones. The added technology launched this week and is a convenient alternative to the downloadable apps currently available that are uniquely designed for the operating systems of specific mobile devices."

Mobile banking expands to making deposits by smartphone
"He doesn't have a jet pack, but Julian Figgins does have technology that was only dreamed of a few years ago, and it helps him do his chores faster. When Figgins has a check to deposit, the West Sacramento resident doesn't lumber to the nearest bank. Instead, he snaps a picture of the check with his smartphone, taps the screen a few times, and the check is deposited to his account."

BISP disburses Rs 1.16b through mobile banking
"Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has disbursed an amount of Rs 1.16 billion through Mobile Phone Banking, ensuring faster and more reliable cash transfer to its beneficiaries. Mobile Phone Banking introduced for the first time in the history of the country was initially launched in the districts including Larkana, Battagram, Layyah, Rawalpindi and Islamabad."

Mobile Banking Security - Jan 16

noreply@blogger.com (brandon@bmcgee.com) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:25:00 +0000

Fraud Prevention: Utilizing Mobile Technology for Authentication & Transaction Verification
"It's no longer just about mobile banking. Mobile technology today is deployed by leading-edge institutions for out-of-band user authentication, transaction verification and to help prevent fraud via real-time security alerts. How can your institution crack down on fraud maximize its mobile investment?"

FBI Issues Warnings Over Mobile Banking
"With smartphone and tablet owners using their gadgets more often to access financial information and authorize transactions, cybercriminals are flocking to mobile platforms. As a result, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has released a bulletin detailing the hazards of mobile malware."

Mobile Functionality or Security?
"Mobile banking is on the rise, with 23 out of the United States' top 25 banks already offering some sort of mobile service. As smart phone and tablet usage grow, banks and credit unions will need to continue implementing and enhancing mobile technology, but they must focus on security and convenience, says Mary Monahan of Javelin Strategy & Research."

Mobile banking security tops 10 security threats for 2012
"While credit unions gear up for what may be radical growth in mobile banking, they also must keep in mind that mobile security is the No. 1 security issue in the list of top 10 computer security threats for 2012, according to McAfee Labs.

Cyber criminals are hacking into all sorts of devices, breaking into to everything from cell phones to car systems, and security threats are escalating and becoming more malicious, said Adam Wosotowsky, senior anti-spam analyst with McAfee (The Motley Fool Jan. 3)."

IDC RESEARCH CONCLUDES HEIGHTENED MOBILE BANKING SECURITY RISKS FOR UK FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
"Following research conducted by IDC Financial Insights, Akamai Technologies Ltd has found a widening gap between IT and business in many UK financial services companies that poses grave operational and security risks for mobile and online services. This widening gap is an unintentional consequence of business decision-makers within financial institutions lobbying for new and enhanced digital services and being stonewalled by IT departments fearful of the growing security threat from mobile malware."

Akamai warns of mobile banking security rift
"IT managers for banks are being put under increasing pressure to deliver secure mobile banking products while having to deal with severe budgetary constraints, according to research performed on behalf of Akamai by analyst company IDC."

Mobile Banking Updates - Jan 15

noreply@blogger.com (brandon@bmcgee.com) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 19:17:00 +0000

Last Year Witnessed a Mobile Banking Lift Off
"In the span of just 12 months, a revolution in financial transactions has occurred. Mobile banking has shifted from nice to have to must have at credit unions across the country as a stampede of institutions have embraced the idea that members demand the convenience of banking from the palm of their hands."

Wells Fargo Mobile(R) Banking Application Now Available from Amazon Appstore for Android
"Wells Fargo customers who use Android-powered smartphone and tablet devices, like the new Kindle Fire, can now keep track of their finances while on the go with Wells Fargo Mobilebanking services. Wells Fargo & Company WFC +0.20% announced today its new Wells Fargo Mobile banking app for Android is available for download from the Amazon Appstore for Android."

The Path to SmartPhone Banking Apps
"Despite mobile banking's growth, many financial institutions still view it as a cost rather than a revenue opportunity. In this roundtable we discuss how banks can speed up adoption rates and increase profit margins, and where deployment of apps fits into the strategy."

Voice controlled mobile banking is the future
"Most Brits will use voice commands to carry out certain banking tasks on their mobile phones following the success of Siri in prompting the take up of voice activation services. Digital banking software maker Intelligent Environments has pieced together the trends in technology and banking and come to the conclusion that voice-activated digital banking could become mainstream in 2014."

First National Bank of Santa Fe Launches Mobile Banking Solution. Teams With Intuit Financial Services to Provide Customers Access to their Accounts Anytime, Anywhere.
"First National Bank of Santa Fe is teaming with Intuit Financial Services to offer consumer mobile banking, allowing customers the ability to access account balances, make transfers, view transaction history and pay bills via a mobile web browser, text messaging or iPhone and Android Apps."

Mobile Banking Updates - Jan 12

noreply@blogger.com (brandon@bmcgee.com) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 03:55:00 +0000

Mobile payments: financial players are in the driver’s seat
"The momentum behind mobile payments is picking up as we kick off a big year in mobile wallets, but many of the newest challengers in the space are going to have to overcome one nagging reality: consumers still trust their banks and credit card companies to drive the mobile payments market. That’s according to some new data from a couple of different surveys from KPMG and mobile analyst Chetan Sharma."

Bankbuster - Why Banks Have to Embrace Mobile Technology
"I was recently reminded of the pace of mobile banking innovation by a store on my local high street. This particular store has certainly seen better days. The blue interior has that slightly musky look to it, probably due to the lack of natural light caused by the worn out posters plastered over the shop window. Whilst the stores all around it are abuzz with shoppers, I haven't seen anyone enter or leave the premises in months. The store in question is Blockbuster. Once a mainstay of any high street around the developed world, they are now few and far between. The sharp rise and fall of Blockbuster is an excellent cautionary tale for most bank CEOs, but the message is currently not being heeded."

CUSN Adds Four CUs to Mobile Banking Roster
"Four more credit unions are now offering their members mobile banking through CU Service Network LLC of Lakewood, Colo., the CUSO said. They are the $14 million Cornerstone CU of Des Moines, Iowa; the $157 million Fitzsimons CU of Lakewood, Colo.; the $297 million State Employees CU of Santa Fe, N.M.; and the $30 million Westminster FCU of Westminster, Colo., CUSN said."

International Mobile Banking Updates - Jan 11

noreply@blogger.com (brandon@bmcgee.com) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 02:51:00 +0000

IBM's Social Innovation Is Supporting 'Smarter Banking' In Kenya
"IBM is helping Kenyan sugar cane cutters through its social innovation support of a mobile banking system. It enables these workers to earn more money. Normally, a sugar cane farm would have to shut down for two or three days a month to enable its cane cutters to travel to a bank branch and wait in a long queue to deposit their pay. Now, with the introduction of mobile banking, the cane cutters can keep working and monitor their pay deposit on their phones. The mobile banking also allows them to access cash from local agents, buy at local shops and transfer money to others."

Mobile money breakthrough predicted for Jamaica
"An American economist is predicting that the introduction of mobile money services in Jamaica will find a ready market because of the scarcity of user-friendly financial services on the island. The economist, Dr Dawn Elliott, made the forecast based on a survey which found that only a fraction of the Jamaican population has access to financial services, which limits their participation in the economy."

Top 10 Posts from the CGAP Technology Blog in 2011
"One of the exciting and yet challenging aspects of the branchless banking industry is how fast things change. Topics discussed just 3 months ago can seem out of date today. That’s why it’s fun to look back over the topics we blogged about in 2011 starting from last January to see how the discussion has evolved over the last 12 months. Here are just a few of the blogs you may have missed or you may be interested in reading again:"

Mobile Banking Updates - Jan 10

noreply@blogger.com (brandon@bmcgee.com) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 01:41:00 +0000

Vendors Give Browser-Based Mobile Banking Apps a Facelift
"Banking applications for iPhone, iPad, Android, BlackBerry and other mobile devices are growing fast, but not all consumers are keen to download specialized apps from their bank. Some prefer to bank using just a web browser on their device.

ComScore, a firm that measures digital commerce, says that in the first half of 2011, mobile app usage for banking information increased from 8.7 million users to 12.7 million users. Browser usage for banking information increased at a slower rate, but is still larger than the app market-expanding from 15.4 million to 17.5 million users."

E*TRADE Launches Mobile Deposit for iPhone(R)
"E*TRADE Financial Corporation ETFC today announced that E*TRADE Securities LLC has introduced mobile deposit for iPhone, enabling customers to electronically deposit checks to their brokerage or E*TRADE Bank accounts remotely with the use of their iPhone camera."

IBC Bank Enhances Its Mobile Banking Offerings
"IBC Bank has expanded its mobile banking program by adding Bill Pay functionality to IBC Mobile. The service is accessible via www.ibc.mobi from any device that can connect to the Web -- including all Androids, Blackberries, and iPhones. The added technology launched this week and is a convenient alternative to the downloadable apps currently available that are uniquely designed for the operating systems of specific mobile devices."

Brookline Bank Selects Jack Henry Banking to Provide Enterprise-Wide Automation
"Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. is a leading provider of technology solutions and payment processing services primarily for the financial services industry. Its Jack Henry Banking(TM) division announced today that Brookline Bank has selected its SilverLake core processing system to provide enterprise-wide automation. This Massachusetts-based bank holding company will implement SilverLake and more than 13 of Jack Henry Banking's integrated complementary solutions, including the jhaPassPort(TM) ATM and debit card transaction processing platform and iPay Consumer Online Bill Pay(TM), through the company's outsourced offering."

Small local bank plays big in mobile world
"Kourtney Houle is a doctor of family medicine. She also has two children younger than the age of 2 — a 16-month-old and a 7-week-old. The combination keeps her pretty busy. That’s why she appreciates the capabilities of mobile banking. 'You learn to multitask when you’re holding a baby and trying to cook dinner,' said Houle, whose family recently took out a loan to build a home in St. Augusta. 'I can make a payment on my phone and look up anything on our other accounts. Anything that can make life easier, I’m on board with.'”

Mobile Banking Updates - Jan 8

noreply@blogger.com (brandon@bmcgee.com) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 20:32:00 +0000

8 Bank Technology Trends That Will Shape the Industry in 2012
"For the past several years, bank IT budgets generally remained flat. The financial crisis and ensuing fallout forced belt-tightening across the industry. In 2011, however, bank IT executives finally enjoyed some breathing room thanks to some revitalized spending power."

MAKING SENSE OF IT ALL: What should be the main 2012 trend? Mobile Security
"With all the predictions of what’s coming for 2012 floating around, one really should stand out: Increased mobile security. For example, it is extremely rare when any politician goes out on a limb, so it’s important to take note when they do. Case in point: Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.) said the following at a trade group’s round table in December:"

Smartphone hacking will rise in 2012, experts warn
"Security experts predict 2012 will be a breakthrough year for cyber-attacks on smartphones. There are now enough of these mobile computers in use to make them an inviting target. 'Shopping and mobile banking are things that are going to leave a trail and contain lots of goodies that criminals can go after,' says Rachel Ratcliff Womack with the digital security firm Stroz Friedberg."

FDIC Reveals Banks Have Allowed for Theft of Mobile Banking Data
"The world just got a little scarier. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has publicly acknowledged for the first time that banks in the United States have had consumers' mobile banking data stolen during wireless transmissions. The FDIC made the disclosure in a dark corner of a document it releases quarterly called Supervisory Insights, which advises its on-the-ground compliance regulators."

Riverset Launches Mobile
"The $117 million Riverset Credit Union in Pittsburgh is now offering its 14,700 members mobile banking through the Mobile Money service from Fiserv’s Mobiliti operation. The mobile service is being offered through text, mobile Web browser and downloadable applications, the credit union said."

Mobile Banking Updates - Jan 6

noreply@blogger.com (brandon@bmcgee.com) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 03:46:00 +0000

Acceleration in the Mobile Banking and Payments Landscape: Insights and Perspectives from Financial Institutions
"Discover why waiting to get involved in mobile payments could prove costly for financial institutions. Many financial institutions have clear-cut mobile banking strategies. However, when it comes to mobile payments, most are “fast followers” — waiting for movement from “pace setters” before investing. Developing a strategy in this growth market now will position financial institutions to move quickly when the catalysts for greater investment in mobile payments are in place."

Indoor Location Positioning: Research Pipelines, Start-ups and Predictions for 2012
"In December, 2011, Google announced that Google Maps would now be able to work indoors. This was followed quickly by announcements from other major companies in the industry that their systems would also soon be able to map and navigate indoors."

Mobile Banking Updates - Jan 5

noreply@blogger.com (brandon@bmcgee.com) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 01:14:00 +0000

Web Browser the Most Popular Mobile Banking Channel
"A Javelin report finds that more customers access mobile banking via a mobil browser, though downloadable apps are gaining and considered more secure. The mobile Web browser is the most widely used mobile banking channel and is perceived by consumers to be the most secure, according to Javelin Strategy & Research's Mobile Banking Security report issued this week. The survey evaluated the specific security issues mobile banking customers face when using three mobile banking channels: Web browser, app, and SMS texting."

A turning point in the history of mobile financial services
"With 2011 drawing to a close, it’s clear that the year has seen exciting changes in mobile banking and payments, with innovative advancements to enhance the consumer experience being delivered. In particular, there have been positive developments from UK banks and retailers in the mobile banking space, culminating in the launch of Lloyds TSB’s successful new banking app. Earlier in the year, ING Direct paved the way for banking innovation, with the news that the organisation is offering the use of ‘Bump’ technologies to transfer funds in a simple and convenient manner."

Charles Schwab Expands Mobile Banking and Investing Offerings with New App for the iPad
"Expanding its suite of integrated banking and brokerage mobile services for investors, Charles Schwab today announced that a new Schwab app for the iPad is now available for download. iPad users will now be able to transfer funds between Schwab Bank and brokerage accounts, manage their trades and keep up with market information with automatically updating quotes and the latest financial news through their Schwab app."

UBA reaffirms preparedness to implement CBN’s cashless policy
"With barely five days before the commencement of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) ‘Cashless Lagos’ pilot scheme geared towards reducing the cost of managing cash in the economy, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has restated its preparedness to fully implement the policy, claiming that time is long overdue for customers, particularly small depositors, to fully embrace self-service electronic banking services. In July, the bank had adopted critical measures to encourage its customers to embrace electronic channels."

RBI Removes INR 50K Cap on Mobile Banking Transactions
"RBI (Reserve Bank of India) has removed INR 50,000 cap on mobile banking transactions. However, banks may place per transaction limits based on their own risk perception with the approval of its Board.

Mobile banking in India is set to generate fee-based income of Rs 20,250 crore over the next five years, mainly driven by lower transaction cost, favourable regulatory environment. By 2015, $350 billion in payment and banking transactions could flow through mobile phones, compared with about $235 billion of total credit- and debit-card transactions today."

Halifax and RBS launch mobile banking apps
"The two banks are responding to the fast-paced growth of smartphones in the UK, with more than a third of people using a smartphone. The apps will be available across all popular smartphone platforms, including Blackberry, Apple, Android and Nokia. The apps will allow customers to access their any of their accounts with Halifax or RBS, including personal accounts, savings accounts and credit cards."

African Banks Turn to IBM to Support New Wave of Innovation in Banking Services
"Over the last six months IBM has signed contracts with five of Kenya's leading banks: Credit Bank, Co-operative Bank, Family Bank, National Bank of Kenya and National Industrial Credit (NIC) Bank. The agreements are amongst more than 20 similar deals that IBM has signed with banks across Africa in 2011 in line with the rapid growth of the financial services sector and as technology enables a wave of innovation in African banking. IBM is also working with Africa's leading telco companies to help provide financial services based on increasingly widespread mobile devices. For example, through its partnership with Vodafone, IBM is helping Safaricom to provide its M-PESA mobile money service to over 15 million customers in East Africa."

Mobile Banking Updates - Jan 4

noreply@blogger.com (brandon@bmcgee.com) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 02:06:00 +0000

Mobile Banking to Mature, Expand in 2012
"In a recent survey conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of financial services technology specialist Fiserv, analysts discovered that several innovative solutions may expand the functionality of mobile banking in 2012.

'After several years of technology-driven expectations, mobile banking is finally seeing sustained traction in the U.S., and banks have rolled out support broad enough to enable consumers with nearly any mobile device to access basic banking functionality,' explained Forrester vice president Brad Strothkamp."

2011 - Review of the Year
"Oh what a year that was. So much going on, at such breakneck speed, that it was hard, at times, to keep up. What better way to end the year then, than with a round-up of the highlights of the past 12 months in mobile marketing.
We have tried to keep this brief, but with the best part of 2,500 stories to summarise, we apologise if our version of brief doesn't quite tally with the accepted one. But if our roundup helps you get a feel for what's been going on over the past 12 months, in return for just 10 minutes or so of your time, we hope you'll forgive us..."

5 Ways Mobile Banking Alerts Can Benefit You
"Some people are only comfortable when they're keeping constant watch on their finances -- and it can seem even more important during an economic recession, when money may be tight or job security uncertain. The fear of fraud has also grown, as banks rely increasingly on potentially insecure processes like electronic transactions."

Monitise, FIS agree to develop mobile money services
"Monitise has signed a five year strategic partnership agreement with banking and payments technologies provider, FIS, to develop mobile money services for existing and new clients in a move that is expected to further strengthen FIS's role for financial institutions. Under the terms of the deal, a mobile development and deployment team will be created to help banks and other financial institutions in creating new secure products and services to defend and extend their role in the payments industry."

Anchor Bank Selects Premier from Fiserv
"Fiserv, Inc., a leading global provider of financial services technology solutions, today announced that Anchor Bank, headquartered in Aberdeen, Wash., has selected the Premier(R) bank platform and a host of additional Fiserv solutions. The $489-million financial institution cited the flexibility and integration of Fiserv products and services, plus enhanced efficiencies, as key factors in its decision to choose Fiserv."

INFOGRAPHIC: How Will Mobile Banking Change In 2012?
"These days, just about anyone with a smartphone can find a nearby ATM with a few keystrokes, divvy up funds across several accounts and pay bills in seconds. And if this report by Fiserv, Inc. is any indication, you can expect even more mobile banking advances in the new year. Eight of ten banks surveyed said they're planning to invest big-time in a suite of mobile payment functions that will undoubtedly make your life easier."

Mobile Banking Updates - Jan 3

noreply@blogger.com (brandon@bmcgee.com) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 03:54:00 +0000

Click to view: Mobile Banking & Payments: Consumer Behavior in 2011

What Will Technology Look Like in 5 Years?
"Some predictions are easy. Mobile banking and tablet banking apps will become more sophisticated. Context-aware computing, highlighted by Executive Editor John Adams in this month's Hot Topics, will let your smartphone sense where you are and automatically adjust the way it interacts with you, for instance switching to voice activation in the car. Aggregators will emerge who will let consumers maintain their entire financial lives on their mobile device."

Synovus Bank Launches New Free App
"Synovus Bank, which includes local Bank of North Georgia branches, has introduced the new Synovus Mobile Banking application, a free mobile banking solution which can be accessed by virtually any mobile device. The app delivers easy, quick and secure banking access via any mobile device. Customers can:"

Will Mobile Devices Kill the Credit Card?
"New innovations in mobile banking are making it possible to transfer the entire payment experience from the plastic credit card to your mobile device. New upstarts with funny names that sound nothing like typical financial names - like Dwolla, Venmo and Square - are going far beyond just enabling you to use your mobile devices to check balances on-the-go: they are transforming mobile devices into payment mechanisms at point-of-sale destinations around the nation. New geo-fencing technology is making it possible for apps loaded on your smart phone to "communicate" with the payment systems of retail stores, eliminating the need to stand in line to make a purchase or even to interact with a sales clerk. So at what point will mobile devices end up killing off the $2 trillion credit card industry entirely?"

Three 2012 trends for Community Banking
"Boston is the backdrop for some of the most prestigious financial companies in the world. The attractive demographics of Boston are based on the elite institutions that employ and educate Boston residents. Boston banks have seen a high level of customer turnover due to consumer dissatisfaction with fees and an overall impersonal banking experience. "

CUSN Adds Four CUs to Mobile Banking Roster
"Four more credit unions are now offering their members mobile banking through CU Service Network LLC of Lakewood, Colo., the CUSO said. They are the $14 million Cornerstone CU of Des Moines, Iowa; the $157 million Fitzsimons CU of Lakewood, Colo.; the $297 million State Employees CU of Santa Fe, N.M.; and the $30 million Westminster FCU of Westminster, Colo., CUSN said."

Mobile Banking Security - Jan 2

noreply@blogger.com (brandon@bmcgee.com) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:42:00 +0000

McAfee predicts 2012 to see more attacks on mobile banking apps
"Mobile financial services are attracting more and more attention, and not all of it is good. According to technology security company McAfee, more consumers are accessing their financial services via mobile devices and bad guys are looking to exploit that shift.

McAfee Labs released its 2012 Threat Predictions report, and along with apocalyptic-sounding cyberattacks on utilities and infrastructure, attacks on mobile devices, especially attacks targeting mobile banking, are high on the list of threats." Click to view the 2012 Threat Predictions report

Mobile Banking Security
"When is the last time you were inside your bank? It’s probably been awhile. With ATMs and online banking, and mobile banking, there’s rarely ever a need to visit a teller. And with the growing number of banking apps, we can virtually carry our banks in our pockets and purses. But at what cost?"

Mobile Banking: Rewards and Risk
"A recent study looked at the security of four types of mobile applications – financial services, social networking, productivity, and retail. The study focused on the types of sensitive data that mobile applications store on the device and whether these data were stored securely. Each application was rated..."

Remote SMS Attack Can Force Mobile Phones to Send Premium-rate Text Messages
"Attackers can force mobile phones to send premium-rate SMS messages or prevent them from receiving messages for long periods of time by leveraging a logic flaw in mobile telecommunication standards. The flaw was discovered by independent security researcher Bogdan Alecu, who demonstrated how it can be exploited at the DefCamp security conference in Romania on Saturday."

Javelin Reveals the Most Secure Mobile Banking Channels
"avelin Strategy & Research's latest Mobile Banking Security report evaluates the specific security issues mobile bankers face when using three mobile banking channels: web browser, application, and SMS texting. With 44% of banking consumers, the mobile browser is the most widely used of the three channels and is perceived by the consumer to be the most secure. Mobile bankers with smartphones view the browser as an extension of online banking. However, banking using a downloaded app is the second most widely used channel and actually the safest for mobile bankers, with 25% of consumers using this channel. This channel is. App banking has the potential to replace online banking altogether and serve as the consumer's primary access to the FI."

Mobile Banking Updates - Dec 20

noreply@blogger.com (brandon@bmcgee.com) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 03:23:00 +0000

RCBC launches Apple mobile banking
"Your bank deposits and other accounts can now be literally just a touch away as Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) has been accredited by the consumer electronics giant Apple to publish the RCBC Mobile Banking application for its customers with Apple devices."

The Banking Security Revolution: Eliminate Social Security Numbers (SSN)
"Javelin Strategy & Research's latest banking identity safety scorecard found financial institutions (FIs) aren't keeping up with growing security demands. As fraud is growing more troublesome, Javelin has had to strengthen the criteria it uses to evaluate FIs and found that prevention, detection, and resolution scores have all eroded. Most importantly, prevention of fraud - which offers the greatest ROI to both consumers and FIs - has fallen precipitously, from 2009 with 79% of FIs meeting Javelin's criteria to only 54% of FIs in 2011. To improve prevention capabilities, Javelin recommends that FIs prioritize authentication and diversify their authentication offerings."

Mobile banking Slow to pick up
"First National Bank (FNB) is on a drive to get clients to make full use of its mobile banking application. But banking services via cellphones may not be the highway to profits that it hopes for, some analysts say. FNB’s app can be downloaded on any smartphone and offers services previously used mainly via the Internet, such as the viewing of accounts, transfers, payments and forex rates."

Nairobi to Host Mobile Banking Security Talks
"From next Tuesday, information technology experts will converge on Nairobi to debate e-payments, focusing on mobile banking security and ATM fraud. For two days, administrators, designers, and analysts drawn from East Africa, Netherlands, South Africa, UK and USA will tackle the subject under 'Combating Emerging Threats in Banking and Payment Transactions in East Africa.'"

Consumer RDC set to take off
"Growth in self-service channel preferences, competitive pressures, and relentless cost reduction demands are vaulting remote deposit capture into the consumer mainstream. Mobile RDC is taking center stage, with 80% of surveyed financial institutions planning or considering a solution, according to a report by Celent."

Mobile Banking UPdates - Dec 18

noreply@blogger.com (brandon@bmcgee.com) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 02:16:00 +0000

Could fees stall adoption of mobile banking?
"Looking to make up the revenues lost as a result of new consumer protection rules put into place this fall, banks are reportedly considering a host of new fees, including ones for mobile banking services.

Banks have wholeheartedly embraced mobile because it is a cost-effective strategy for them although consumer adoption is still low. With several banks reportedly considering adding fees such as a $5 charge for remote deposit capture, the question is how this will impact the adoption of mobile banking services."

Mobile shopping can pave the way for mobile banking
"With the countdown to Christmas well underway, shoppers are turning to their mobile devices in their droves to beat the last-minute high street rush. In fact, the UK trade body for online retailers, IMRG, recently forecasted that Christmas 2011 is when mobile moves mainstream, with 35% of people saying that they plan to do more shopping using their phone this year."

A Flat Earth Perspective on Mobile Banking
"My six year old son recently asked me, “If the Romans were so strong and smart and powerful, how come they thought the world was flat?” Good question. The Romans weren’t much of a seafaring people, so in the greater scheme of things, you could say they didn’t get out much. The world might as well have been flat from their very limited perspective."

Mobile apps make banking easy
"Imagine you are eating out with friends one night and when you receive your bill, you suddenly forget if you have enough money in your account to cover this meal. If you don't have enough money in your account, you will be overdrafting, meaning using funds you don't have. If this happens, your bank will pay for this transaction, but will also make you pay the money back and charge you an additional fee."

Cachet Financial Solutions Integrates Mobile Deposit Offering with Mobile Banking Application from MEA Financial
"Cachet Financial Solutions, a leading provider of remote deposit capture (RDC) solutions, announced today that it has integrated its mobile deposit solution with the Mobile Access mobile banking application from MEA Financial Enterprises, LCC, a national leader in financial services technology. This partnership enables any credit union or financial institution using Mobile Access to deliver mobile deposit capabilities to members and customers using smartphones and tablets. RCB Bank will be the first financial institution to employ the new mobile remote deposit capability offered through this partnership."

Mobile Banking Updates - Dec 15

noreply@blogger.com (brandon@bmcgee.com) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 01:30:00 +0000

Mobile Banking: SMS, App, Web or All of the Above?
"When it comes to providing mobile banking to your members, the first question is: Should you do it? Looking at the increasing adoption rate of smartphones, and the number of competing banks and credit unions who provide their members with a mobile offering ... well, the answer is obvious. Mobile banking is a value-added feature that helps members bank from anywhere, and it's becoming more of a baseline expectation with members."

Telco: Mobile banking
"According a to survey by Aegon Magyarország of its the clients, only one-third of Hungarians use their mobile phones for banking. The share of those using mobiles for communication only is still high.

Only 30% of those queried have a subscription that allows both data and voice communication services, 46% have only voice-based communication subscriptions, while nearly one-quarter use a pre-paid phone card."

Mobile banking to trigger economic growth- Mkulo
"The mobile banking that started nearly three years ago has proved to be a catalyst to economic growth especially in rural areas, the minister has said.Using their mobile phones, consumers and communities take advantage of the mobile commerce innovations, which enable them to conduct a wider range of financial transactions conveniently."

BBK mobile banking is launched
"BBK has launched its new mobile banking service, keeping pace with the changing technology and continuing to be committed towards customer convenience and satisfaction. The new service, which will allow any retail banking transaction to be done instantly from a mobile phone anytime and anywhere with the highest level of security, is available to all customers for free. Customers will be able to perform almost all online banking services from their mobile phones."

International Mobile Banking Updates - Dec 13

noreply@blogger.com (brandon@bmcgee.com) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 03:10:00 +0000

Britons resistant to mobile banking
"UK consumers and businesses are ahead of the curve when it comes to adopting new technologies, according to KPMG’s latest Consumer & Convergence Report. Both online shopping and the use of social media are more widespread in Britain than in other parts of the globe. However, when it comes to mobile banking, consumers in the UK are more resistant than elsewhere."

Etisalat launches mobile banking in Afghanistan
"Etisalat Afghanistan has announced the launch of its mobile money service, dubbed mHawala. The mobile banking platform is provided by Telepin Software and includes a full range of mobile financial services. mHawala allows customers to check their balance, pay for utilities, receive their salary and transfer funds."

Mobile Banking Will Surpass 140m Users in Latin America by 2015
"Pyramid Research estimates that around 18m users in Latin America use financial services from their mobile devices and that this number may rise to more than 140m by 2015, according to Jose Magana, Senior Analyst at Pyramid Research ( www.pyr.com ) who discussed trends in mobile banking in a live webinar produced by TeleSemana ( www.telesemana.com ) recently."

Vikram Akula handpicks 40 employees of SKS Microfinance for his mobile banking venture
"Vikram Akula has handpicked about 40 employees of SKS Microfinance for his just-launched mobile banking venture in what is being seen as an example of unusual cooperation between a firm and its estranged founder.

Akula, who quit as executive chairman of SKS on November 23, selected these employees after an agreement with SKS, a senior company official said. "All the handpicked employees were relieved on December 1," he said, adding that Akula is not allowed to poach any more people."

Mobile Banking Updates - Dec 11

noreply@blogger.com (brandon@bmcgee.com) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 15:04:00 +0000

Tiny Ameriana Bank Battles Heavy Hitters with New Mobile App
"As it charts its course in mobile banking, Ameriana Bank faces competition in its eastern Indiana footprint from much larger banks that have been offering mobile banking for years, such as JPMorgan Chase and PNC."

Intel, MasterCard, Motorola Mobility Put $18M In Mobile Banking Platform mFoundry
"mFoundry, a company that powers mobile banking solutions for more than 500 banks and credit unions nationwide, is announcing a new round of funding, to the tun of $18 million, from MasterCard (which led the investment), Intel Capital, FIS, and Motorola Mobility. This bring’s mFoundry’s total funding to $40 million."

Fifth Third launches mobile banking apps
"There is now an app for Fifth Third Bank’s mobile services.
Fifth Third, which operates 15 branches in the Pittsburgh area and ranks as the region's 17th largest bank as ranked by deposits, has launched a banking app for use with iPhones, Android devices and BlackBerry smartphones."

Chase Finally Releases Mobile Banking App for BlackBerry With Check Deposits!
"The day has finally come. Chase has released their Chase Mobile app for BlackBerry users (for a very limited number of devices). This new app lets you access your account AND deposit checks with your camera. It will also let you send payments and other features including:"

Mobile Banking Updates - Dec 8

noreply@blogger.com (brandon@bmcgee.com) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:46:00 +0000

Fifth Third boosts mobile banking with smartphone apps, texting
"There is now an app for Fifth Third Bank’s mobile services. Fifth Third has launched a banking app for use with Apple products such as iPhones and app launchers for Android and BlackBerry smartphones. The downtown-based bank also announced Thursday it is adding text banking. That allows customers to make transfers and get their account information by sending a text message to Fifth Third."

Android exploits new mobile banking enemy
"With Google Inc.'s Android mobile operating system increasingly finding itself in the sights of malicious software, Canadian banks are facing a new enemy on the mobile frontier.

Reports of Android malware have increased sharply in recent months, with Juniper Networks reporting that as many as 55 per cent of Android applications are not what they seem. It’s a disturbing trend, but financial information is not being targeted in significant way, say banks and industry experts. At least, not yet."

Mobile Banking - It's more than just another channel
"I was in a meeting recently discussing the mobile aspirations of a client. Beyond their initial foray into the mobile space, offering an iPhone app that can do just a little bit less than their current internet offering, my client had not spent much time thinking about mobile. If anything, mobile was something that they felt compelled to get into due to market pressures from competitors who have launched their mobile applications to much fan fair. They consistently referred to mobile in the context of all their other channels and spoke about it as if mobile's sole utility was in replicating previously available transactional processes already available via some of their other channels."

MAKING SENSE OF IT ALL: Mobile banking: a channel in its own right
"It’s becoming clear that mobile banking, if not already commoditized, soon will be. The question for banks is how to differentiate their mobile channel enough so that it not only prevents current customers from leaving, but actually attracts new customers and business. A number of analysts have weighed in on this recently."

Chase Awarded Javelin Strategy & Research's "Best in Class" for Mobile Banking in 2011
"Chase announced today that Javelin Strategy & Research recently awarded them "Best in Class" for mobile banking 2011, beating 24 of the largest retail banking financial institutions measured by deposits. According to Javelin's recently-released third Mobile Banking Scorecard, Chase won by providing a broad range of features and specialty apps to complement its mobile offering, including person-to-person transfers through Chase QuickPay (SM), account rewards, and mobile remote deposit capture via Chase QuickDeposit (SM)."

J.P. Morgan Names New Unit CFO
"J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. will continue expanding and investing in its consumer-banking business, the unit's heads affirmed in a memo that named a new chief financial officer for the consumer bank.

Chase, the retail side of the nation's biggest bank by assets and deposits, hired David Owen, the former head of online and mobile banking at Bank of America Corp., to be finance chief for the unit. He is charged with ..."

Tablet banking on the rise
"As banks work to deliver new tools for account holders, a survey shows that the future of mobile banking may be bigger than a smartphone. In a survey conducted by Oracle Communications, more than 3,000 mobile users indicated there is a very bright future for tablet computers. The majority of people have jumped on the smartphone bandwagon, but when it comes to money management, tablets appear to be the technological tool of choice."

First Citizens' Federal Credit Union introduces mobile banking
"First Citizens' Federal Credit Union announced the release of Mobile Banking, which allows members to access account information, view transaction history, transfer funds, make bill payments and find branch or ATM locations. Once enrolled in Mobile Banking, members may choose from three mobile banking options."

International Mobile Banking Updates - Dec 7

noreply@blogger.com (brandon@bmcgee.com) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 01:41:00 +0000

Cash-Lite: Mobile Money Expands In Nigeria
"Last week, following regulatory approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the United Bank of Africa (UBA) launched U-Mo, a mobile banking product that will be accessible to more than 80 million people across Nigeria. Now, almost half the country's population will be able to transfer and receive funds using their cellphone -- without having to have a traditional bank account with UBA."

HDFC Bank, Vodafone India launch mobile banking product for rural coverage
"It's a brief moment in the wintry sun for the handful of curious residents of Jhalsu village as a cavalcade of cars descends there on a quiet Saturday morning. Jhalsu is a dusty hamlet with a population of about 3,500 people and is about 35 km north of Jaipur in Rajasthan. The Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, Dr K.C.Chakrabarty, is here along with senior officials of HDFC Bank and Vodafone India, to have a look at their pilot project on financial inclusion through mobile banking and get a first hand impression from villagers."

HSBC Mobile Banking App Ranks No. 1 in UAE App Store
"HSBC's mobile banking solution received an outstanding vote of confidence from its customers as the app achieved a ranking of No. 1, in the Finance category, on the UAE Apple app store, within 48 hours of launch. The new mobile banking app was also rated amongst the Top 25 most popular "Free" apps.

HSBC UAE recently launched its new Mobile Banking solution in UAE, delivering the bank's Internet Banking platform customised for smartphone screens. HSBC customers, owning any Apple device, now have access to most of the same functions as desktop users via any GPRS, 3G and wireless (Wi-Fi) network. Using the new digital solution, customers in the UAE can view account details and transaction history, transfer funds between HSBC UAE accounts, access exclusive credit card offers in the UAE and worldwide, make credit card and bill payments, view exchange rates, and more."

Etisalat Afghanistan Launches "mHawala" Mobile Financial Services Powered by Telepin Software
"Telepin Software, a leading provider of mobile money transaction platforms, today announced that Etisalat Afghanistan has commercially launched mHawala, its new Mobile Money Services platform. Telepin's Cayman Transaction platform will be used by Etisalat Afghanistan for a full mobile financial services (MFS) offering that includes central bank cooperation, banking ecosystem participation, utility merchant involvement, and salary disbursement, which enables complete mobile banking capabilities and future cross-border money transfers."