In a post on IBM's banking blog, Danny Tang points out a number of mistakes banks typically make associated with their mobile channel:

There's plenty of great information out there for consumers about the dos and don'ts of mobile banking-password protect your device, use caution with what apps you install on your phone-but there are also plenty of mistakes financial institutions make when it comes to mobile. Let's look at what I consider to be the top 10.

10. Not going for 100% mobile banking adoption

The adoption rate for mobile banking should be 100% of those customers who have a mobile phone. And yet many banks chose to limit themselves by requiring users to activate in online banking or enroll at a local branch. This reflects the fact that mobile is still an afterthought for many banks.

9. No balance security vs. usability

Can't we have both? It's remarkably easy to lose your mobile phone, which makes it especially important for banks to safeguard user information. While banks should absolutely secure mobile banking beyond just ID and password, it shouldn't be impossible to use, either. Does it really make sense to ask users who their favorite teacher was in elementary school, or require everyone to carry another device just to log in to mobile banking on their smartphone? Risk-based authentication, geolocation, biometrics-these and many other technologies are available to help banks find the right balance between security and ease-of-use.

8. Cutting corners in education

Should we assume that all smartphone users are smart? This is especially true for security. No technology today (that I know of) can prevent a user from writing down his ID and password on a paper attached to the back of the phone. An educated user is your best defense against fraud and loss of privacy. If you teach customers the value of security features-and how to use them-they'll be happy to see those authentication layers instead of cursing at them.

7. No consistency in user experience across platform

Does your Android app look like it's from a different planet than your iPhone app? People shift between platforms, and lack of consistency is confusing-and annoying. Banks should invest in a MEAP (mobile enterprise application platform) to help teams ensure a consistent user experience between environments. A MEAP such as IBM Worklight can enable write-once-deploy-across-many-platforms that both saves cost and improves user satisfaction.

6. The "X2 Button" tablet app

If your iPad app strategy is to tell users to push the X2 button, you're missing an opportunity to provide customers a richer banking experience. You're also providing an interface that's downright clunky. Tablets aren't going anywhere soon, so don't waste the screen real estate your clients have paid a premium for-invest in a tablet-friendly user experience with dedicated features such as spending analysis and retirement planning.

5. No love for the mobile team

Is your mobile team stuck in a corner of basement? For many customers mobile is how they most frequently interact with your bank. The mobile banking team deserves more love from bank execs. Mobile should be at the center of your channel strategy-and your planning meetings.

4. One app fits all

Consider providing a unique app for each major customer segment (retail, mass affluent, small business, and so on). Different customer segments have different needs. Mass affluent clients appreciate more financial analysis, while small business clients would rather have mobile invoicing and collection. Don't assume you can satisfy everyone with the same solution.

3. No roadmap to ROI

Mobile shouldn't just be a cost center. What's your plan to profitability? In the interest of "getting something up and running," many banks lose sight of the long view. When it's done right, mobile banking can be a valuable sales and marketing tool that can build loyalty, cross-sell products, and yes-generate revenue.

2. Me-too syndrome

One of the worst mistakes a bank can make when going mobile is adopting a "me-too" approach. When you outsource to a company that creates and hosts mobile banking for your competitors, you'll end up with a mobile banking app that looks just like your competitors'-and one that provides zero differentiating value.

1. Not realizing that nonbanks are eating your lunch

Nonbanks such as Square and PayPal have been riding the mobile momentum for some time now. And Google, Apple, Walmart, and others have their eyes on the revenues traditionally enjoyed by banks through mobile payment and wallet apps. Does your bank have a strategy for dealing with cross-industry competition and disintermediation? (If not, how well have you been sleeping these days?)

For more info.

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Name

Email

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (Registered users only)

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment