Advancements in consumer banking technology are sluggish to migrate to small business banking. But when it comes to mobile banking this could be a strategic misstep; small business customers are more interested in the channel than consumers, according to research firm Aite Group.
Part of the slow rollout by banks has to do with the perceived level of demand. Just 24 months ago, 93 percent of banks surveyed by Aite said there was low-to very-low interest in mobile banking services. Today that number has dropped to 25 percent, with 69 percent showing average interest and six percent indicating a high to very high interest.
There's a good reason the mobile channel is so appealing to small business owners: this segment values products that save them time-since they have so little of it-and because they tend to be on the move. Of the more than 300 small businesses surveyed, 35 percent said they would use mobile banking to check business account balances over the next six months if offered by their bank; one-in-four would be willing to transfer funds and/or make bill payments under the same scenario.
Compare those small business numbers to credit and debit cardholding consumers and there is little question just how much more fertile the small business line of business is for these mobile banking services.
Only five percent would use it to check their bank account, three percent would use it to pay bills and two percent would use it to transfer money.
