banking

Sweden's largest bank, Handelsbanken, has released its official app over on the Windows Phone Marketplace. The Handelsbanken app gives customers access to a wide range of banking services including:

• Balance and transactions
• Transfers between own and others' accounts
• Open and close bank cards for internet purchases
• Open and close bank cards for purchases and withdrawals abroad

You also have the ability to find branch office locations, view current mortgage rates, and access tv feeds from Handelsbanken TV. The ability to close bank cards to prevent them from being used is lost or stolen is a very nice feature.

Handelsbanken is a free app over at the Windows Phone Marketplace and you can grab it here.

source: wingadget thanks goes out to Peter for the tip!

Barclays, a UK bank, has released a passcode generator for Windows Phone. While at least it's something from the bank to customers who use Windows Phone, the app itself is pretty poor and limited. It replaces the passcode generator for security verification and looks like an iPhone rip. The app description is a beauty:

"Secure Pass is a one-time passcode generation application"

Sure, it may just be a passcode generation app and nothing more, but it should be a full scale experience that acts as a gateway to online banking. Are you using the app for banking, what are your thoughts on it? You can download Secure Pass from the Marketplace for free.

Thanks Tahiti for the heads up!

We saw this way back in January and then we had an exclusive sneak peek a few weeks ago, but now the official Bank of America app is ready for your daily use. The app is quite smooth, fast loading and even has a svelte design, adhering to the Metro paradigm pretty well i.e. this isn't just a port. Here's the full description:

FEATURES

• Pay bills and transfer funds
• Review account balances
• Find ATM and banking center locations using GPS, with no address input required
• Feel secure with our industry-leading mobile security and our Online Banking Security Guarantee

MOBILE BANKING SECURITY

• You’ll enjoy peace of mind, knowing you have the same level of security as Online Banking.
• Your personal information is protected by advanced encryption technology to help prevent unauthorized access.
• We are committed to protecting the privacy of your financial information. See the Privacy Policy for Consumers at www.bankofamerica.com.
• As part of our Online Banking Security Guarantee, you’re not responsible for fraudulent charges made by others.
• We use the same SiteKey® technology to verify your identity as we do for Online Banking, providing an extra layer of security for your peace of mind.
• We never transmit account number information.

Anyways, give the app a spin here in the Marketplace and we'll see about doing a more in depth review later. Thanks, Steve K, for the heads up!

Acculynk, creators of PaySecure, announced in a press release today that they will be developing a mobile version of their Internet PIN debit platform for Windows Phone 7, iPhone, Android and BlackBerry systems. 

Here's how it works: when a customer makes a debit card purchase at a website that uses PaySecure, they enter their debit card number at checkout.  Then, a encrypted graphical keypad, which is embedded into the vendors website, is used to enter the consumer's PIN.  It eliminates the need to sign up for accounts on vendor websites or get directed to third-party sites, like PayPal.

Acculynk's CEO, Ashish Bahl, said in the statement,

"In 2011, our goal is to expand the channels where PIN debit can be accepted, like a mobile phone and even kiosks." 

They also hope to move beyond eCommerce, by developing methods for online banking and P2P fund transfers.  You can check out a demo of how it works here.

Source: EarthTimes

Pageonce, who makes software to live monitor your accounts, announced support today for Windows Phone 7. The software looks a lot like what Quicken or Microsoft Money was for Windows Mobile years ago, but goes further with the ability to evidently access and live update your accounts: credit card, bills, banks, etc. It also sounds like it will get its own Hub too on the Start screen, allowing quick access to all of one's finances.

The software should be available in November for free and will feature the following services:

• Account Monitoring:  A quick and simple snapshot of available cash, credit card balances, upcoming bills, and investment values.
• Transaction Insights: Ability to dive deeper and look into daily financial transactions and spending behavior
• Bill Tracking:  A comprehensive look at bills, when they are due and how much is owed
• Spending History: A monthly spending history and trends across all accounts
• Real-Time Alerts:  Notifications and updates deliver important account events and help users avoid fees, penalties and suspicious activity

While simple "bill keepers" are one thing, the ability to live-sync to your accounts on the go sounds real good and stuff we should be able to easily do in 2010.

Check out the full YouTube demo after the break--it really looks pretty snazzy and we normally hate financial stuff.

Source: EarthTimes