International Mobile Banking Updates - Nov 21

Visa, Fundamo unveil emerging markets MCommerce product
"Visa, the world’s largest credit and debit card network, has unveiled a new product that allows people to access a prepaid account through their mobile phone. The product, which appears to be nameless, was developed in conjunction with Fundamo, a leading South African mobile money platform bought out by Visa for $110m earlier this year."

Global Banks Offer Surprisingly Few Good Mobile Apps
"The mobile applications of Deutsche Bank and the French bank Caisse d'Epargne come out as winners in a benchmarking of a total of almost 200 mobile apps, offered by the world´s top 50 banks (see table below). In the MyPrivateBanking survey Deutsche Bank’s apps scored especially well for the comprehensive content and the integration with other online media like Facebook, Twitter and the bank’s own website."

Mobile banking on the rise among young Canadians
"Nearly half of Canadian smartphone users, or 49 per cent, are expected to do banking from their devices in the next year or two, a new survey from ING Direct says. In a release, ING said that number reaches 64 per cent when looking at smartphone users between 18 and 34 years old."

Rural Women Banking By Mobile Phone
"Collecting the monthly subscriptions for her co-operative has always been a headache for Thelma Nare, 41. This is because Nare lives in Tshitshi, Plumtree in rural Zimbabwe, about 60 kilometres away from the humdrum of the nearest town centre where banks are located."