Community First Credit Union
Service: Easy Street Financial Services
Technology: Browser-based, SSL with digital certificates from Verisign, as well as 128-bit encryption. Web site is both PC and Mac compatible. In terms of optimum platform specifications, PC users are recommended to have a Windows 95 plus Web browser Internet Explorer 5.0 - 5.5 with 128-bit encryption. Windows 98, 2000, XP or NT plus Web browser Internet Explorer 5.0 or above with Service Pack 2 and 128-bit encryption. Apple Mac Users are recommended to have operating system 9.0 or above plus Web browser Internet Explorer 4.5 or above with 128-bit encryption or Netscape 4.7 or above with 128-bit encryption. Web browsers with encryption levels less than 128 bit may still function correctly at lower levels of encryption.
Balances/transaction updates: Balances are updated in real time.
Average downtime for 2002: Less than 2 percent.
Average transaction time: 30 seconds.
Account integration: Not provided.
Consumer services:
- Balance enquiries
- Funds transfer in and out, immediate and future dated, once-off and regular
- Comprehensive transaction displays and printouts
- Access code management
- View interest credited in a financial year
- Loan redraw facility
- Export transaction information into accounting packages
- Calculators--budgeting, loan repayments, offset.
The Community First Credit Union online services offers balance enquiries, funds transfer between accounts and externally, immediate and future dated, once-off and regular, comprehensive transaction displays and printouts, direct debit/credit displays, access code management, periodical payment management, integrated BPay, view interest credited in a financial year, loan redraw facility, export transaction information into accounting packages, secure mail, calculators - budgeting, compounding interest, borrowing power, loan repayments, split loan, offset and stamp duty.
Company services: Easy Street Internet Banking is consumer based only at present.
Extras: View and print statements online, online savings application and online loan application
Unfortunately, the reviews only give the features of the banking sites. I have an HSBC, Commonwealth Bank, ANZ and UK based First Direct bank account.
I can say for a fact that the HSBC online banking facility is very poor in comparison to the others with possibly the worst most cryptic transaction list of all the institutions I know of! Looking at the transaction list is totally cryptic and users have to click on every transaction to see what it is - even an ATM withdrawal!!! Not only that but HSBC is extremely slow. However, their online savings account is excellent and offers me the most attractive interest rates.
My favourite is Commonwealth Bank Netbank for it's simplicity and speed. ANZ is also good but has far more clutter on the screen.