B of A First Large U.S. Bank to Launch Windows 8 App

Bank of America (BAC) has become one of first big U.S. banks to offer its customers a Windows 8 app. As Microsoft prepared for its Windows 8 in late October, the bank was readying an app for the new operating system for tablets, desktops and PCs. That app went live in the Windows Store the day of Microsoft's release of the new operating system. (Canada's ING Direct also had an app available on Windows 8's debut day.)

The B of A Windows 8 app functionality is similar to its other native app offerings and includes the ability to make mobile check deposits, to conduct funds transfers via email and app, and to use BankAmeriDeals, the bank's merchant-funded rewards program. The app also provides more commonplace mobile banking features, such as the ability to check balances, pay bills, locate ATMs and banking centers and receive alerts within the app.

Among the 428 ratings of the Windows 8 app as of Monday, B of A has scored four out of five stars.

"Our Windows 8 [app] is the latest demonstration of our commitment to providing the best experience, no matter how [customers] choose to interact with us," Marc Warshawsky, senior vice president and head of mobile solutions at Bank of America, tells BTN.

B of A has more than 11 million mobile banking users.

Microsoft has taken heat from the technology blogosphere on whether enough software developers will design Windows 8 apps. According to the WinAppUpdate, more than 11,000 apps had been developed for the new operating system in the U.S. as of mid-November.

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