Best in Online Banking
February 21, 2013 12:40 PM
Best in Online Banking
Citigroup, Bank of America and Wells Fargo hauled in the most medals in Corporate Insight's annual comparison of banks' websites, but smaller players such as KeyBank and Ally Bank also made an impression.
(Image: Fotolia)
Citibank Scores 6 Medals
Citi (C) has slipped in the rankings of the nation's largest banks, but its online banking features rank second-to-none. It earned medals in six of eight categories, including golds for its self-service options and its tools for assisting customers.
(Image: Bloomberg News)
Bank of America Features Stand Out
The retail banking giant (BAC) captured five medals, including golds in the categories of account history, transfer capabilities and customer alerts. Its three gold medals were most among the 17 banks included in the report.
(Image: Bloomberg News)
Wells Fargo: Unflashy, But Steady
It didn't earn any gold medals, but the San Francisco bank (WFC) proved to be a contender in all categories by capturing a silver and four bronzes. The silver was for its online account-opening feature, which reviewers called "excellent." Their suggestion for making the page even more customer-friendly: add a live chat tool or some other feature to offer users more immediate assistance.
(Image: Bloomberg News)
KeyBank Keeps Pace
Cleveland-based KeyBank (KEY) had the best showing among regional banks, claiming three medals, including a silver for its online transfer feature. Reviewers praised its easy-to-navigate transfer tool and the ease with which customers can transfer funds internally and externally. The fact that external transfers can be made at no cost helped the bank earn its silver ranking, reviewers said.
E*Trade Earns Three
The online bank (ETFC) earned bronze medals in the categories of account summary information and private site help and won a silver for its account history page. "The integrated search options function helps the firm achieve high marks," the reviewers wrote.
(Image: Bloomberg News)
Ally Bank Makes the Grade
Earning its first-ever medal in the competition, the online bank captured the sole gold medal in the category of online account openings. It was given high marks for its "seamless, easy-to-follow application" that allows prospective clients to open multiple accounts simultaneously, sign up for add-ons and select from several funding options. It also won a bronze in the private site help category.
JPMorgan Chase Goes on Alert
The nation's largest bank (JPM) earned only two medals, one a gold it shared with B of A and Capital One (COF) for its alert centers. Reviewers noted that Chase was alone among 17 banks in offering push notifications for its mobile apps.
(Image: Bloomberg News)
Capital One Rolls On
The bank earned a gold in the alerts category for the fourth straight year "by continuing to offer an extensive list of alert offerings and delivery options." It also was one of three banks that shared a silver in the account summary category.
(Image: Bloomberg News)
Citizens Bank Makes It Count
It only captured a single medal, but it was a gold it shared with Ally Bank in the all-important category of online account openings.
