St George Bank
According to Alexandra Harry, personal bank Internet manager with St George, the bank has introduced over 25 new features over the past 12 months--leading to a threefold increase in active users.
"It has been a feature-driven year," explains Harry. "We have been working in the branches to introduce people to the Internet channel."
The bank's online offering consists of a hybrid of online-specific accounts and features designed to support its branch offerings. Online customers are able to use the service as a complement to their branch offerings while also having access to low-cost eAccounts and high-interest 'dragondirect' savings accounts.
"When it comes to demographics we have found that high-volume customers are more likely to use the Internet. Once someone buys a home and has bills to pay they want to gain easy access to the bank," Harry explains. "Our approach to online banking is really features-rich."
While such an approach certainly provides customers with attractive online options, St George lags behind the other banks when it comes to support services, benchmarking a 48 hour response time to service e-mails, rather than the 24 claimed by the majority of other sites.
"Most queries are answered a lot faster, however we want to be honest with our customers about what delays might be when we get a sudden increase in queries," Harry explains.
Technology:
Browser-based, offering 128-bit encryption supported by a range of Microsoft Internet Explorer version 4--and above--and Netscape version 4.74. Excludes Netscape 6.0.
Compatibility:
Web site is both Mac and PC compatible.
Consumer Services:
- check balances, interest and view transaction history for St George accounts on cheque, savings, personal or home loan and term deposit accounts
- open Portfolio Cash Management Account, Incentive Saver Account or Term Deposit eAccounts
- transfer funds between St George accounts
- set-up a third party payee account online
- redraw excess loan repayments - credit card payments
- schedule payments to occur on a regular basis
- BPAY services
- bank cheque, cheque copy and statement ordering
- cheque status
- edit contact details
- customise your icons and colours
- change your Internet Banking Security Number
Business Services:
- pay creditors, employees or others by transferring funds to any bank account in Australia
- Dual authorisation of transactions
- arrange for other people, such as accountant or office manager, to have transaction or view access to accounts
- check balances, interest earned and view and print statements for accounts
- view and print an electronic Consolidated Balance Report for a selected date for all your Business Banking Online accounts
- Export Transaction History to compatible financial management packages
- schedule payments
- transfer funds between St George business accounts and credit cards
- BPAY services
- search and check BSBs and display associated branch information
- search for a cheque number and inquire on its status
- view and print a list of those users that have accessed the system, imported, created, authorised or submitted payments
Extras:
- personal loans applications
- information on securities, structured investment, venture capital and capital markets
Web site:
Why didn't you include Adelaide Bank (http://www.adelaidebank.com.au)? It provides a good range of services with the exception of not being able to credit someone else's account quickly.