unified online banking?

456789

I have been using Halifax online banking for a while and have now used HSBC too - will be signing up for Abbey online banking too

Seems they all have a number of base payments such as view account, transfer money/pay bills etc.

But some have features others don't like order a new pin, replace cards etc. also the interfaces for some are quite different

It would have been nice if they had co-ordinated and offered a more similar service

Do you think they will in the future?

realaledrinker

Maybe when they have all been nationalised some civil servant will think this up as a cost cutting measure.

ShelfStacker_3

I very, very much doubt it. There's so many back office systems to integrate with, so many accounts, so many different facilities and systems... not to mention the security implications, that if there's a screwup in the unified system, it then affects all banks (whereas if, say, Barclays had a security flaw in its online banking, it wouldn't necessarily affect anyone else right now).

If you really want there to be a universal interface, there's things like First Direct's internet banking plus, but as it is the chances of all the banks coming together like you suggest is slim to none.

MPH80

The real answer here is competition. As the interface to the online banking becomes more and more important - it'll be more important for the bank to have the best online interface.

As the interface allows the customer to do more without CS intervention (e.g. request new pin) - the bank saves money. It's just a matter of the investment priority of the company being directed towards retail banking.

But if they are all the same - then no company can make a differentiation from others. At some point - one would break forward and introduce a new feature to try and attract more customers and then the cycle starts again.

456789

ok thanks for the info

and I have to say A+L have the worst system ever.....