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Service: ING Direct
Technology: Browser-based, 128-bit encryption with digital certificates issued by Verisign. Web site is both Mac, and PC, compatible.
Balances/transaction updates: Balances and transactions are updated in real time.
Average downtime for 2002: Over the past 12 months we have had an average of 99.7 percent uptime.
Average transaction time: Under 10 seconds, depending on the user's connection speed. During 2002, users of the ING Direct Web site spent an average of 2.30 minutes per visit. This is 50 seconds less than the online banking industry average.
Account integration: ING Direct provides its clients with two product types, savings and managed investments. In addition to viewing each account in great detail, clients can view a consolidation of their total holdings.
Consumer services:
- Make deposits and investments from other bank accounts
- Make withdrawals through other bank accounts
- Transfer funds
- Make and amend automatic savings and/or investment plan
- Open savings or managed investment accounts
- Change or verify bank account details
- Review your transaction history
- Check your balance
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.