Press Releases
« View all Press Releases
One in four mobile internet users using mobile banking
Consumer demand for retail mobile banking is clear, but concerns around security and functionality are holding uptake back, according to the latest research from YouGov and Antenna
Guildford, UK and Jersey City, NJ, 30 JUNE 2011 - 25 per cent of UK mobile internet users now utilise mobile banking services, according to online consumer research released today by mobile web and app specialists Antenna. With the number of mobile-internet enabled handsets continuing to grow worldwide, banks that address the demand for both mobile apps and mobile web usage will have the sharpest competitive edge in the battle to attract new customers.
A separate study* revealed that only four out of 14 high street banks surveyed offer a dedicated mobile banking app. This may explain why the YouGov research found that three times as many UK mobile internet users use mobile websites most frequently for mobile banking (15%) as opposed to apps (5%) with 6 per cent preferring to use both equally. This contrasts with the US, where banking apps and mobile websites are used almost equally by mobile internet users (13% and 16% respectively), with 8 per cent using them the same amount andthe majority of banks offering dedicated mobile banking apps.
Interestingly, the Antenna research found that the demographic driving the widespread adoption of mobile banking in the UK is young people, with 30per cent of 18-24 year old and 33 per cent of 25-34 year old mobile internet users utilising mobile banking to manage their money on the go -compared to 13 per cent of over 55s.
Antenna ‘s research also assessed the barriers to take-up, and found that 69 per cent of UK mobile internet users have security concerns about mobile banking services saying they would stop using the service if they felt their data was not secure. These concerns could account for the unpopularity of third-party banking apps, with only one per cent of respondents in the US, and less than one per cent of those polled in the UK admitting to preferring to use a banking app not provided by their own bank. Nonetheless, both findings suggest that banks who want their customers to use mobile banking must use the brand trust they ‘ve already built up with consumers if they want to continue to ‘own the channel ‘.
The report also found that the functions UK mobile internet users are already using, or would most like mobile banking solutions to offer, are checking their account balance (46%), viewing their transaction history (31%), and transferring money between their own accounts (27%). 25 per cent of respondents use, or would like to use, mobile banking to pay their bills, and 20 per cent to transfer money to third parties.
The report also suggests that the American market is currently more mature than its UK counterpart, with 40 per cent of US mobile internet users having used mobile banking compared to 25 per cent of UK mobile internet users. Other notable contrasts saw a much higher proportion of US consumers already using (or wishing to use) mobile banking services to find local branches or ATMs, with 36 per cent in the States, compared to 21 per cent in the UK.
”Mobile banking has now taken hold,” commented Jim Hemmer, CEO of Antenna. “The public clearly want to fit their banking chores around their lives and not their lives around their banking chores, and using their mobiles, they can. Banks need to acknowledge this by implementing holistic mobile banking strategies as soon as possible, and that means providing easy-to-use mobile web and apps across all device platforms.”
”Security remains the big issue for consumers, and that ‘s probably why they ‘re mostly using mobile banking services for basic tasks like checking their balances and finding ATMs. Banks need to start offering full mobile banking services which allow their customers to make deposits, balance transfers and the like as soon as possible, because it ‘s those banks which build up mobile trust in the short-term who are going to gain the most when m-commerce becomes commonplace.”
Research methodology
UK:
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,387 adults, 1,028 of whom access the internet on their mobile phone, smartphone, or tablet computer. Fieldwork was undertaken between 27th and 31st May 2011. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).
*The survey of UK mobile banking offerings looked at HSBC, First Direct, RBS, Natwest, Barclays, Nationwide, Lloyds TSB, Santander, Halifax, Standard Chartered, Bank of Scotland, Metro Bank, Northern Rock, and Cheltenham and Gloucester. The survey only looked for dedicated apps and mobile websites and did not take into account text alert services or downloadable web icons with quick access to mobile banking sites, which some of the above did offer. The results are based on banks ‘ mobile offerings as of 17th June.
US:
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,015 adults, 906 of whom access the internet on their mobile phone, smartphone, or tablet computer. Fieldwork was undertaken between 27th and 31st May 2011. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18+).
*An additional study of US mobile banking offerings looked at Bank of America Corp., J.P. Morgan Chase & Company, Citigroup, Wells Fargo & Company, HSBC North America Inc., U.S. Bancorp (USB), PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (PNC), Bank of New York Mellon Corp., Capital One Financial Corp. And TD Bank US Holding Company. The survey only looked for native applications and mobile websites based on the banks ‘ mobile offerings as of June 17, 2011.
About Antenna
Antenna Software provides a complete solution for mobile web, apps and content that addresses the needs of all users, across all Internet-connected devices, from anywhere in the world. Only Antenna’s mobile solutions enable business transformation by delivering a consistent and compelling experience for everyone - from employees in the mobile workforce to millions of consumers on myriad devices. Antenna’s advanced mobile technology makes all the hard stuff like security, integration, performance, scalability and management look easy (even though it’s not). That’s why leading Global 1000 companies rely on Antenna to be their trusted mobility partner. Founded in 1998, Antenna is headquartered in Jersey City, N.J., with offices around the world.
Visit www.antennasoftware.com and www.volantis.com for more information.
Follow @AntennaSoftware on Twitter.
