Simple accounts aggregator?

pthompson

Hi all,   

Can anyone recommend a decent no-thrills accounts aggregator? 

I just need to see my balances and transactions in a simple format.  I don't need fancy graphics, balance projections or other gimmicks. 

I used Yodlee happily for many years, but haven't found a suitable replacement since it was wound-down.  I've already tried Emma, Money Dashboard, Moneyfy, Spending Tracker and Mettle -- but they're generally too gimmicky and don't cover enough institutions.   

Ideally it should also track non-UK bank balances too.  And ideally it should be an iPhone app (but browser-based is fine). 

Many thanks,
Paul.

boingy

I had a good ol' look about six months ago and didn't find anything that came close to what I wanted. I can put up with the gimmicks but, as you mentioned, it's the lack of supported institutions that is the problem. I have a whole bunch of accounts and of those that support Open Banking only about half would show up in any particular app.

As far as I can tell the problem is that there are several Open Data providers/intermediaries and most apps seem to only support one of them. Also, one bank told me that their devs have to write specific code for every supported bank, which seems a bit crazy but might explain why so many are not supported. Kroo was the most amusing. They told me that they fully support Open Banking but then were unable to name any app that can connect to them! 

The other problem is that even when a bank does appear it's usually only the current account at that bank that supports Open Banking so you can't see your savings accounts. That was the showstopper for me because I want to check my regular savings accounts each month. Even banks in the same group fall short. For example, the NatWest app will show all the NatWest accounts and also an RBS current account but not any RBS savings

It really seems that Open Banking really isn't very open! It's a great idea but has not (yet) been fully embraced.

trient

boingy said:

I had a good ol' look about six months ago and didn't find anything that came close to what I wanted. I can put up with the gimmicks but, as you mentioned, it's the lack of supported institutions that is the problem. I have a whole bunch of accounts and of those that support Open Banking only about half would show up in any particular app.

As far as I can tell the problem is that there are several Open Data providers/intermediaries and most apps seem to only support one of them. Also, one bank told me that their devs have to write specific code for every supported bank, which seems a bit crazy but might explain why so many are not supported. Kroo was the most amusing. They told me that they fully support Open Banking but then were unable to name any app that can connect to them! 

The other problem is that even when a bank does appear it's usually only the current account at that bank that supports Open Banking so you can't see your savings accounts. That was the showstopper for me because I want to check my regular savings accounts each month. Even banks in the same group fall short. For example, the NatWest app will show all the NatWest accounts and also an RBS current account but not any RBS savings

It really seems that Open Banking really isn't very open! It's a great idea but has not (yet) been fully embraced.

Story goes like this. The government (FCA) ordered the top (6?) banks to implement open banking, at their own dime of course. Of course the banks begrudgingly implemented the bare minimum, i.e. current accounts only. Because why would they allow more data to be shared/mines by third parties. Other banks followed suite but didn't have to, that's why you have edge cases like Kroo, Cater Allen, Chase (until recently) or (worst culprit) Metro Bank, that fake open banking by having something that allows them to tick the box yet no third parties bother to implement (I won't go into technical details).

In short - it's no fault of the aggregators.

There are some that will play nicely and include savings accounts even though they don't have to. Off the top of my head, Santander and Virgin Money.

rubrik

I use Lifestage money by WPS Advisory. It's very UK based but it works for me and let me download excel file with all the transactions.

eskbanker

pthompson said:

Can anyone recommend a decent no-thrills accounts aggregator?

Conversely, I'd be interested in any that offer thrills!

(and yes, I do know that it's an ancient thread that's been belatedly resurrected)

pthompson

Since I posted that question >2 years ago I've been continuing to search for a solution -- but have come to the conclusion that a single, neutral, enterprise-grade aggregator with Yodlee-level coverage, consumer UI, and zero agenda simply doesn't exist nowadays. 

The market has split between:

a) Open-Banking-only UK apps.

b) US-led tools with broader international coverage, but weaker UK-specific integration.

c) Adviser portals disguised as 'apps'.

Yodlee did everything I needed (and was free), but was bought by Envestnet which then moved its focus away from consumers to advisers & wealth managers, then just let it gradually die.

That's a genuine loss, but the lack of activity in this thread suggests most people either don't care, or don't realise what they're missing 🤷‍♂️

wmb194

pthompson said:

Since I posted that question >2 years ago I've been continuing to search for a solution -- but have come to the conclusion that a single, neutral, enterprise-grade aggregator with Yodlee-level coverage, consumer UI, and zero agenda simply doesn't exist nowadays. 

The market has split between:

a) Open-Banking-only UK apps.

b) US-led tools with broader international coverage, but weaker UK-specific integration.

c) Adviser portals disguised as 'apps'.

Yodlee did everything I needed (and was free), but was bought by Envestnet which then moved its focus away from consumers to advisers & wealth managers, then just let it gradually die.

That's a genuine loss, but the lack of activity in this thread suggests most people either don't care, or don't realise what they're missing 🤷‍♂️

I'm happy to do it all manually with MS Money 2005 and I have a lot of accounts. I suspect there just isn't the demand let alone the willingness to pay for an all singing and dancing solution from people with an average number of accounts.

SiliconChip

wmb194 said:

pthompson said:

Since I posted that question >2 years ago I've been continuing to search for a solution -- but have come to the conclusion that a single, neutral, enterprise-grade aggregator with Yodlee-level coverage, consumer UI, and zero agenda simply doesn't exist nowadays. 

The market has split between:

a) Open-Banking-only UK apps.

b) US-led tools with broader international coverage, but weaker UK-specific integration.

c) Adviser portals disguised as 'apps'.

Yodlee did everything I needed (and was free), but was bought by Envestnet which then moved its focus away from consumers to advisers & wealth managers, then just let it gradually die.

That's a genuine loss, but the lack of activity in this thread suggests most people either don't care, or don't realise what they're missing 🤷‍♂️

I'm happy to do it all manually with MS Money 2005 and I have a lot of accounts. I suspect there just isn't the demand let alone the willingness to pay for an all singing and dancing solution from people with an average number of accounts.

I've always felt that Open banking has the potential to be a massive security issue so I don't use it, and like you I manage my accounts in Money, which has been made easier with access to accounts through apps.

boingy

I also just type the stuff into a Windows app, in my case the free and open source KMyMoney.
I used MS Money for years before that.

I don't think Open Banking is ever going to deliver on its potential.