What's the point of the YBS app?

nottsphil

Yorkshire Building Society keeps nagging me to get their app, but what can you do on it that you can't do with a browser? For example, they've just sent me this, which at first implies that you can see all your interest for last tax year 'all in one secure view' but it then goes on to say you have to select your account. If you have multiple accounts then that is not all in one view, is it! 

pmduk

Generally security is tighter on an app than via a browser

friolento

pmduk said:

Generally security is tighter on an app than via a browser

It’s also much faster to log into the app than into the browser, you can do almost everything in the app, and I find the interface much more user friendly 

SH88SH88

Perhaps they should have phrased it more carefully because the interest statement shows every account for the tax year, including closed accounts.  It's actually very useful.

flaneurs_lobster

The difference is that the app is on your phone and online access isn't.

Some people find having (amost) immediate access to their accounts, in a device that is likely to be to hand, useful.

friolento

flaneurs_lobster said:

The difference is that the app is on your phone and online access isn't.

you could use a browser for online access on the phone. Though this is way more cumbersome than using the app, and the presentation is not optimised for mobile devices.

trickydicky14

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81855887#Comment_81855887

"what have the romans ever done for us" Sorry couldn't resist that.

Catplan

The app is better for transferring money out to external accounts, I do need to login via a browser to setup direct debits which isn’t that often. I used to login once a month to do the Halifax £500 debit card transfer but no longer need to do that. Otherwise the app is generally a better experience for everything else.

pochisoldi

There's an all round push to get people to "use the app".

Some of it is relentless pushing, some of it is definite "carrot".

If you want to access Natwest Rewards or Barclays Rewards, the only access route is via the app (usually by the app opening a preauthenticated "single sign on" website via the phone's web browser. Same goes with the Nectar website - go via a web browser, and some of the draws and promotions beyond "Your Nectar Prices"/"Sainsburys Offers"/"Partner offers" are not available. (One current example is a prize draw you get entered into if you unlock a nectar price offer once a week).

Then there's Ryanair who tell you you can't use a printed out boarding pass, and imply that you have to use their app. The reason there is to drive you to an incessant series of screens trying to flog you something you don't need or bought somewhere else for less. (Hint: Check in via the app, then click on the download to Google Wallet or Apple Wallet button, and use that instead, so you only have to walk through the online souk once)

talexuser

The app is fine except for one reason, it only works on one phone, I have 2 phones and check balances on both, all my other accounts are fine, if you log in Yorkshire on a second phone you are logged out on the first and have to manually enter your (my very long and complicated username and password) details all over again to enable fingerprint, then you lose it on the other phone.

WillPS

Last time I checked there was no secure messaging on the app, nor any way to pay in using a debit card.

It did everything else competently enough tho.