Mobile Banking Updates - May 24

3 Keys to Mobile Security
"Mobile banking is being adopted by consumers at an increasing rate, but it's just one piece of the overall mobile financial services puzzle. As the mobility trend grows, banking institutions are still figuring out how far ahead they should look, and what strategies make the most sense. But Paul Smocer, president of BITS, the technology policy division of the Financial Services Roundtable, says most institutions are doing much more than some observers give them credit for doing. Banking/security leaders are very concerned about mobile, and they're doing what they can to anticipate risks."

TMG on the Future of Mobile Payments
"The Members Group, in a wide-ranging webinar, offered up a provocative view of a banking future that in lots of ways challenges every idea credit union executives hold. 'Financial institutions do not have a God-given right to control payments,' said TMG executive Brian Day, who led the webinar on Thursday. 'Alternative payment providers want this market.' He pointed to Google, possibly Apple, certainly PayPal as aggressively on the hunt for thickening slices of the payments pie. To compete in a complex payments marketplace, said Day, 'credit unions need to look at creating new value for members and merchants.'”

SAP® Mobile Apps Connect Businesses and Consumers - from the Boardroom to the Shopping Center
"Extending its commitment to drive mobile innovation from the enterprise to consumers, SAP AG SAP -2.22% today announced a new wave of mobile apps designed to help people be more efficient whether at work, at home or pursing leisure activities. With the help of a thriving partner ecosystem, the new SAP® mobile apps lay the foundation for growth by providing real-time mobile access to human resources (HR), sustainability, finance, sales and mobile commerce functions. This includes updated versions of existing SAP mobile apps available on more mobile platforms, including Android and RIM BlackBerry. The announcement was made at SAPPHIRE® NOW, being held in Orlando, Florida, May 14-16, 2012."

Simple: Online And Mobile Banking With Style
"New services providing financial management usually evoke doubtful feelings within us, as we tend to rely on big, long-time running companies with a good reputation rather than small competitors new to the game. More or less exactly two years ago, in May 2010, Alex Payne joined and co-founded a company called BankSimple with the imagination of a bank without fees, caring for support and responsible money treatment — plus a love for good design and usability concerning its user-end products. It already sounded like an ambitious goal the day he published his announcement post."

Mobile banking app launched
"The app called Apprivo is being sold directly to banks and building societies with National Counties being the first mutual to take up the app. Customers will be able to access their accounts, access up to date product information, transfer money from one account to another and send outstanding information and documents including photos of wage slips and P60s. Advisers will also be able to use the app to submit information on behalf of clients in the same way."

To gain a competitive advantage with mobile, CIO readiness is all
"Ask Angelo Valletta, CIO at Sun National Bank, about IT's role in the company's sure-handed launch of its mobile banking platform back in early 2010, and he talks about team effort. Gaining a competitive advantage by being one of the first banks of its size to offer mobile banking was the result of a 'team going in the same direction,' says Valletta, who also heads bank operations at Sun National, a subsidiary of Sun Bancorp Inc., both headquartered in Vineland, N.J. 'IT is not the tail wagging the dog here.'"

Ally Expands Into Mobile Banking
"The latest TV commercial from Ally Bank, “Grocery,” (above) touts the brand’s "people sense" which translates into customer-centricity as good business sense, specifically, Ally’s Raise Your Rate CD, one of their most popular products. Ally Bank, a direct bank in the U.S., is a subsidiary of Ally Financial Inc., and offers a full suite of financial services including 24/7 live customer care, online savings, interest checking, money market accounts, IRA Plans and products, CD’s, reimbursement of ATM fees nationwide, an Ally Perks debit card reward program, and is a member FDIC."

Simple Releases First Mobile Banking App, Hits #13 in Finance Category of iPhone App Store
"The much-anticipated launch of the first truly virtual consumer bank is fast approaching. How do we know? From its tweets, of course (see inset). Customers who joined the wait list in 2010 are being told publically that they will receive invites "before spring is over." Others are being told "early summer," "mid-to-late summer," "early fall" and "fall." Based on those responses, it looks the company plans to work through its entire 100,000 wait list within the next 6 months."