BOSTON-The demand for business mobile banking services is a mixed bag, according to a new report from Aite Group.
Based on a recent Aite Group survey of 319 treasury executives, sponsored by FUNDtech, the report makes a case for banks to roll out corporate mobile banking services to their treasury services customers.
While financial institutions generally offer mobile banking capabilities to their consumer customers, many have concerns regarding business customers' willingness to use such a service, Aite Group found. These concerns demonstrate a "disconnect" between bank product offerings and customer needs.
According to Aite Group's survey, approximately two-thirds of businesses would be at least "somewhat likely" to perform basic transactions over corporate mobile banking services over the next 12 months, while 42% described themselves as "likely" or "very likely" to do so. More importantly, 56% of survey participants expressed interest in performing more advanced functions, such as approving transactions and initiating payments, and 49% of businesses expressed a willingness to pay for mobile banking.
"A strong business case exists for banks to provide these services to their treasury services customers as an extension of their online cash management offerings," said Christine Barry, research director with Aite Group. "The demand is present, and mobile corporate banking is still in its infancy. A first-mover advantage exists, therefore, for any institution that launches an initiative capable of addressing the unmet market need for corporate mobile banking."
