We have a lot of conversation about RSS feeds and their usage for confidential information, such as balances, and bill payments and other information, that toady is behind security, firewalls, and authentication. I see RSS feeds as no different than emails.  Many times in a Google search, I have encountered an RSS feed, when I assumed I was clicking through to a web page.  There is such thing as authenticated feeds, but as far as I know, those are not secure. NetBanker points out BillQ which uses feeds for communication to customers. And there is enormous potential for feeds in … Continue reading RSS and readers are not ready for confidential information

 This is an illuminating article summarising the reasons that Egg doesn’t work, and the reasons are all associated with bad implementation, and problems with the parent.  The Pru needed the proceeds to shore up its UK operation, but no deal was consummated and the saga ultimately claimed the scalp of its then chief executive Jonathan Bloomer. Source: Pru needs to be shot of its Egg bogeyman – Markets – Times Online Some of the implementation issues are highlighted with the resultant bad debts. But still the problem won’t go away. Egg’s profits have wilted, and it is heavily exposed to … Continue reading Egg Bank gives internet banks a bad name

It seems to be merger week, with this one in India, creating much synergy between the banks, with the smaller banks focus on very small balance customers. MUMBAI, DEC 9 : The board of directors of ICICI and Sangli Bank on Saturday approved an all-stock amalgamation of the latter with ICICI Bank. The deal will be in the ratio of one share of ICICI Bank for 9.25 shares of the privately-owned, non-listed Sangli Bank. …… ICICI Bank will seek to leverage Sangli Bank’s network of over 190 branches and existing one lakh customers and 1,850 employees in urban and rural centres for its rural … Continue reading Sangli Bank merges with ICICI Bank

 Unfortunately for Alton he wrote this right when the need to turn the traditional paradigm on its head is becoming more and more evident it is easy to forget about the foundation of effective marketing – have an integrated view of your customers and prospects Source: The Marketing Consortium : Developing an Integrated View of the Customer We have been challenging traditional marketing here for while, and very supportive of Forrester’s piece that stated Marketing is in a state of crisis.  We have also looked at CRM and it is in state of crisis, and not delivering on the promise – more here, … Continue reading Time to rethink the basis of marketing data

 Doc seems unusually excited about VRM following IIW where he has been attending.  If he is this excited, we had better watch out! VRM finally delivers the Cluetrain promise Source: The Doc Searls Weblog : Thursday, December 7, 2006 I love the concept.  I have hated CRM for ever as a failed mechanism – technology (CRM) can’t possibly bring individual employees or even self service to a sufficient level to satisfy customers. Anyhow, VRM is defined as the reciprocal of CRM.  Its the customer equivalent, which provides the tools for the customer to interact with vendors/ sellers. This is a … Continue reading Doc appears to have an epiphany

 Yahoo announced their expected re-organisation late last night.  Its worth a comment here, because the strategies of the big three (Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft) affect us all in our internet activities. We’re moving aggressively to deliver the most possible value to our key customers — audiences, advertisers and publishers — and seize the major new opportunities we see ahead for the Internet,” said Terry Semel, Yahoo! chairman and chief executive officer. “The Internet is continuing to grow and evolve at a rapid pace, and we’re reshaping Yahoo! to be a leader in this transformation, just as we did successfully five … Continue reading Yahoo! Re-Aligns Organization to More Effectively Focus on Key Customer Segments and Capture Future Growth Opportunities

 What is becoming evident is the move by smaller institutions into the high interest space, branchless space, recognising the national coverage they can achieve quickly.  Wilmington is a 10 Bn dollar bank. wtdirect.com is a separate brand, and is not mentioned on the main bank page. The latest top bidder on Google (see End Notes) is WT Direct , a new direct banking brand from Wilmington Trust. Its sole product is a 5.26% APY savings account. To encourage trial, the bank pays the advertised rate on any balance for the first 60 days. On day 61, the rate drops 466 … Continue reading NetBanker 2.0 | Yet another direct bank: WT Direct from Wilmington Trust

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC – taxes) commissioned a survey that confirms people prefer to to their taxes online – brilliant!  77% of internet users confirmed this.  Current stats show 2 million do so, but expect that to grow. More than nine million people need to fill in a tax return each year, and according to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), over two million of them do this on the internet. Of more interest, the top three activities online were sourced. HMRC’s research also revealed that among those questioned, the three most popular uses for the internet are researching, booking … Continue reading Online banking popular with UK consumers, survey shows – Banking Business Review

 This report doesn’t surprise, but it will catch Banks off guard.  Bank technology strategists, and security practitioners hate IM, and it is not really on any Banks radar, that I am aware of. Instant messaging is the fastest-growing communications medium of all time, according to a September study from the Radicati Group (Palo Alto, Calif.). IM is spreading like wildfire in the business world because of its ability to provide real-time communications, the market research firm says. The study shows strong growth in IM use worldwide, with the number of IM accounts growing from 995 million in 2006 to more than … Continue reading Instant Messaging is the fastest growing medium of all time