Jim notes the new Mercedes app but he also asks the important question. When we consider the relatively small cost why would any bank not have an iphone app, even with rudimentary functions, such as balance and transfer, but through in bill payment and secure communication, and you cannot go wrong. The safari browser is as (more) secure than internet explorer which banks trust for majority of their web banking, so for the life of me I cannot see why this is not a priority. The positive press and customer comments from users translates into marketing gold and customer advocacy.
Canadian Banks? Not one has an iphone app.
Mercedes-Benz launches auto finance iphone app
Along those lines, SunTrust (iTunes link) is the latest megabank to join the store (last week), leaving US Bank, Capital One, BB&T, and HSBC as the remaining top-10 U.S. retail banks without their own iPhone app. Who will be the last one in?
Bankwatch 
No UK bank has a iPhone app either.
I’ll wager the last one will be mine – Union Bank of California.
John
thanks Nathan/ John for those updates. The obvious conclusion is that Banks’ generally see iphone as a one off, and see no particular advantage, and lots of cost associated with development of an iphone app. Sad.
Great post Colin, it really confuses me aswell and I just can’t understand why there are still huge banks out there that haven’t yet embraced the iphone. It certainly isn’t a one off and anyone that thinks that way is being somewhat naieve. Applications on the iphone in my view are a really good way to harness cutomers and bolster reputation, many people just need to realise this.