"I'm a big fan – and former employee – of Big Blue. So it's always good to see the innovations that continue to emerge out of the IBM Labs. In their latest offering, reported by Finextra last week (http://www.finextra.com/News/FullStory.aspx?newsitemid=25338), IBM has employed NFC technology to deliver a simple customer identification and verification process for mobile banking.

They have done this by using contactless cards and Android 4.0 phones. In effect, mobile phones begin to operate a little like ATMs. The user enters their PIN into the phone and then presents their card to identify themselves. They then present their card again to authenticate. It is a nice way to try and make logging into mobile banking and authenticating transactions easier – and more intuitive." Continue Reading

"IBM scientists have developed a new mobile authentication security technology based on the radio standard known as near-field communication (NFC). The technology provides an extra layer of security when using an NFC-enabled device and a contactless smartcard to conduct mobile transactions, including online banking and digital signatures when accessing a corporate Intranet or private cloud." Continue Reading

Fostering Financial Inclusion with Mobile Banking
"The annual growth rates of mobile phone penetration in the developing world have ranged between 30% and 50% or higher, and penetration has been rapidly increasing. In Africa, mobile phone penetration has exploded during the last ten years. Between 1998 and 2009, Africa witnessed an increase from 0.53 per 100 people to 42.82 per 100 people. At the same time, the average price of a 2G handset decreased from USD 150 in 2003 to USD 75 in 2008. Africa is now considered to be the fastest emergent continent for ICT sector growth."

Mobiles becoming dominant for banks
"The growing love affair smartphone-toting Kiwis have with mobile banking is starting to push the desktop PC into second place. ASB is the first bank to reach a "tipping point" where more than half of all customers' online sessions are now taking place on mobile devices. Head of digital experience and commerce Michael Ramsay said the behavioural shift was one of the biggest and fastest the bank had observed in its 160-year history."

CBN to review mobile banking framework to accommodate telcos
"The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said there may be need to review the mobile banking framework in order to accommodate the telecommunication operators. This is in response to analysts question over non inclusion of telecommunication companies in the mobile banking operational plan by the CBN. Kola Adeyemo, assistant director, payment system policy and oversight division - banking and payment system department, CBN, who said this at the BusinessDay Mobile Money Roundtable in Lagos, also said there was need for these telcos to register subsidiary companies, which would be regulated by the CBN."

M-commerce boom in Zimbabwe
"Online and mobile transactions have for the first time surpassed card payments in Zimbabwe after recording 28,3% growth in the month of May. According to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s May 2013 monthly economic review, the value of mobile and Internet-based transactions rose from US283,6ドルm in April to 364ドルm in May, while the total value of card-based transactions rose by 1,3% from 328,2ドルm to 332,6ドルm."

ACI Worldwide to power DBS’ IDEAL mobile banking platform in Asia
"Payment and banking system provider ACI Worldwide announced on Tuesday a partnership with DBS to deliver the IDEAL 3.0 regional internet and mobile banking platform to corporate customers in Asia."

IBM Extends Its Banking Tech Expertise Into Emerging Markets
"IBM is extending its expertise in laying the foundation for banking beyond the established world and into emerging countries. A modern, reliable, secure banking system is a basic requirement for economic growth. For emerging economies, developing such a banking system is both a challenge and opportunity; large portions of their populations may not have bank accounts or use banks regularly, creating an impediment to growth and development."

Online banking brings more customers to StanChart
"Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia experienced a tangible growth in the number of its active customers by over 700,000 over the last 12 months through its new digital strategy of online banking. According to its country head of Consumer Banking Sonia Wedrychowicz-Horbatowska, the growth is important for the bank to stay competitive."

Rise in mobile banking predicted
"Experts predict that mobile banking in the Middle East and Africa will jump from 19.8 million users to 82.1 million users by 2017. Over the last five years, the developing world has experienced substantial growth in the adoption of mobile technology. Emerging markets offer not only new possibilities for traditional banking but major potential for transformative banking, said a statement from Gemalto, a leader in digital security."

Westpac soliciting new ideas for mobile banking apps through a competition
"Westpac is spreading its net wide in the search for fresh mobile banking apps by soliciting ideas from outside the bank through a competition. The bank says it will "crowdsource" ideas for mobile banking apps from New Zealand developers and designers. In return they're being offered the carrots of cash and the chance to "take their app to the world." Westpac says the objective of "the Westpac App Challenge" is for developers and designers to use their experience as bank customers, alongside their professional skills, to make a process or service faster and easier via a mobile app."

Swedes snap up mobile banking
"'The number of people who download the mobile app is increasing and they are using it also once its installed. The app is very user friendly,' Handelsbanken press officer Henrik Westman told the TT news agency. With smartphones now the norm major Swedish banks like SEB, Handelsbanken, Nordea and Swedbank have reported that the number of mobile logins is more than online banking via a computer."

Mobile banking on USSD likely to get delayed
"Full-scale mobile banking services over the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) platform, a text message-based interactive backbone could hit a roadblock with both GSM and CDMA operators at loggerheads with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) on the revenue-sharing model."

Bank Muscat’s mBanking wins best mobile payment app in ME award
"Bank Muscat, the flagship financial services provider in the Sultanate, has won the ‘Best Mobile Payment Application in the Middle East’ award for its state-of-the-art mBanking mobile services. The prestigious award was received by Tariq Atiq, AGM — Cards & eBanking, at a ceremony held in Dubai as part of the Cards & Payments 2013 Middle East seminar, which is reckoned the largest cards payment and identification event in the Middle East."

Mobile banking changing Africa’s financial landscape
"COMMUNICATIONS technology is reshaping Africa with more people on the continent using their mobile phone to bankthan in any other region in the world, reports Africa in Fact. It says mobile phone technology is especially useful in banking where many people live in rural areas far from cities where most banks are located. Kenya is the global model for this innovative use of mobile banking technology but the report notes, the potential for mobile banking in Nigeria is immense, mostly because of the size of its population (Africa's largest), and the size of its unbanked population."

Leading Vietnamese Bank Reaches New Clients with IBM Smarter Computing
"At today's (NYSE: IBM) Technology Conference and Exhibition in Hanoi, IBM announced that Saigon Hanoi Commercial Joint Stock Bank, one of the leading commercial banks in Vietnam, has turned to IBM Systems and Software to streamline business processes across its IT infrastructure and enable broader client reach through new online and mobile banking services."

Mobile banking remains “promising land” for banks
"Experts believe that mobile banking would enter the hot development period in the time to come, when the number of smart phone users increases rapidly. A report says that 50 percent of the mobile phones to be sold in the future would be smart phones. Le Thanh Tam, Chief Executive Officer of IDG ASEAN said he can see the great potentials for developing electronic payment, believing that 98 percent of Vietnamese would use mobile banking services in the next five years."

Second RBS apology for banking app glitch
"RBS has apologised for the second time in two months after customers were unable to log in to their accounts through their mobile phone app. Many customers of the RBS Group, which includes NatWest and Ulster Bank, were unable to use the app for two and a half hours on Friday. A similar problem occurred at the end of March, when the app's users were unable to check their accounts. RBS is 81% owned by the taxpayer. About two million customers have the app."

HDFC launches mobile banking app on Windows Phone
"Windows Phone users in India with HDFC Bank accounts will no longer have to use the browser version of HDFC Bank. HDFC has just launched the mobile banking app for its Indian customers at the Windows Phone Store. The app will allow users to handle their accounts and basically do everything as with any netbanking application."

‘Misconceptions’ stall mobile banking uptake in UAE
"Despite its promise of convenience, mobile banking remains unpopular among many residents in the UAE due to a number of misconceptions, a recent survey shows. In a recent poll conducted by Rakbank that gathered 2,500 responses, over a third of respondents said they don’t find mobile banking to be a secure way to bank, citing that handsets can easily be compromised."

IBM, ING DIRECT Canada team up in mobile banking initiative
"IBM Canada Ltd. recently announced that it is working with ING Direct Canada to deliver financial services designed to improve the bank’s online customer experience including simplified account access across mobile devices and social media channels, voice recognition, and security. The software and services support ING DIRECT's Orange Snapshot initiative, which the two organizations say are 'designed to provide its clients greater control to manage their accounts within their increasingly mobile and social lifestyle.'”

ASB tops mobile banking survey
"ASB Bank has come out best in a survey of mobile banking services by privately owned testing company Optimal Usability. Optimal Usability, which employs 20 staff in Auckland and Wellington, advises companies on customer-facing technology and said it consulted for all the banks whose services it reviewed, with the exception of TSB."

Is it a phone, is it a bank?
"SWAHILI continues to creep into the language of global finance. M-PESA, a thriving money-transfer system run by Safaricom, a Kenyan mobile-phone operator, and named after the word for “cash”, has already entered the lexicon. Having persuaded millions of Kenyans to send cash through an SMS network, Safaricom is now trying to tempt them into a savings-and-loans service called M-Shwari, after the Swahili for “cool” or “calm”."

Ulster Bank mobile banking glitch now resolved
"Ulster Bank has said it has resolved a technical problem that affected customers trying to use mobile banking. The bank is part of the RBS group and the glitch appeared to be group-wide. In a statement, the bank said: "For a short period of time earlier today customers were unable to log into our mobile banking applications."

OFW remittances via online, mobile banking growing
"Majority of the overseas Filipino workers (OFW) send funds home via traditional money transfer services, like banks, but a growing trend is brewing: cash transfers via online transactions using mobile devices, kiosks and automated teller machines. There has been a growing demand for bank account-to-account or purely online transactions, noted Grant Lines, senior vice president for South Asia and Middle East and MoneyGram International."

NatWest glitch leaves customers locked out of mobile banking app
"NatWest has been hit by its third IT glitch in nine months when a fault left customers locked out of its mobile banking app for hours. The problem, which prevented people from logging in, also affected customers of Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank, and prompted some to take to Twitter to vent their anger. The three banks' mobile apps have well over two million active users, with at least 13m log-ins taking place each week."

Generations Bank Rolls Out Mobile Banking App that Includes PFM Tools
"Generations Bank announced Thursday a mobile app for its iPhone and Android customers called mygenmobile. Among the app's features are bill-pay capabilities; a GPS-based locator for branches and ATMs; alerts and notifications as well as the ability to aggregate outside financial accounts and add tags, notes or photos to transactions. Generations Bank is based in Seneca Falls, N.Y. The mobile app is available to its internet banking customers."

6 steps to safer online and mobile banking
"Using a phone to send a friend money to cover your bar tab, getting your ATM receipt via email and depositing a check by smartphone may seem futuristic, but these online and mobile banking functions are available today from many banks. While these and other paperless banking practices are practical and environmentally friendly, some consumers wonder if they are compromising their security in the name of convenience. Financial institutions have protections in place as well as recommendations for their customers on steps they can take to avoid financial or identity theft while using their smartphones for making payments and deposits."

MOBILE SURGE In four years, a billion+ users could embrace mobile banking
"A new report from Juniper Research finds that over 1 billion mobile phone users globally will have made use of their mobile devices for banking purposes by the end of 2017, compared to just over 590 million this year. While the forecast of 1 billion users by 2017 represents just under 15% of the mobile subscriber base, it should be acknowledged that around half of all mobile subscribers remain unbanked, with limited access to traditional financial services."

How Banks Can Use Mobile Banking Technology to Drive Revenue and Reduce Costs
"The annual E-Signature Summit for Banking Executives, co-hosted by Silanis and IBM this past week in New York, saw incredible turnout for the second year in a row and significant interest in mobile banking technology. With double the attendance over the year previous, attendees were treated to a day of sessions that included a panel discussion with guests from US Bank, JPMorgan Chase and IBM sharing their thoughts on mobile banking, e-signatures, cutting costs and driving revenue."

Mobile banking expands to include microfinance
"Mobile banking in the Philippines is expanding into microfinance to serve the lower-income market outside of the country’s major urban centers. Tricia Dizon, head of financial services at Smart Communications, said in a statement the telecommunications giant was helping launch mBank Philippines."

Mobilink to launch mobile financial services
"Mobilink is all set to enter the mobile banking segment as Waseela Bank – sister concern of Pakistan’s largest cellular operator – has obtained central bank’s approval to launch Mobile Financial Services (MFS) in Pakistan, sources familiar with the matter said and the company’s spokesperson also confirmed on Tuesday. A subsidy of Orascom Telecom – Mobilink’s parent company – Waseela Bank is said to launch its MFS operations by December this year; the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) issued the licence on Monday, according to sources."

Leading Pakistan Mobile Banking Provider Uses IBM Cloud
"The FINANCIAL -- IBM announced that Monet, one of Pakistan’s leading mobile-commerce providers, has selected a customized IBM cloud-based solution that will enable the company to enhance service efficiency and expand its presence across the country. Launched in 2012, Monet provides banks, mobile network operators and branchless banking agents in Pakistan with a technology platform that offers end-users a simple interface through which they can access a wide range of financial services on their mobile phones."

Mobile banking to overtake online
"More people will be banking on their mobile phones and tablets than online within five years, Westpac group executive, retail and business banking, Jason Yetton says. Mr Yetton said the explosive growth in mobile banking over the past two years, with more than 1.58 million Westpac customers using their devices for transactions, will accelerate. Westpac estimates that the number of payments made across its digital platforms will exceed one billion transactions within five years, with a total value of 6ドル.8 trillion."

Good banking apps can make consumers jump ship: ANZ Bank
"The quality of a banking app can have the power to make consumers switch banks, according to ANZ Bank's Group General Manager for Innovation Peter Dalton. All the major Australian banks have poured money into customer-facing mobile application development as smartphone and tablet penetration continues to soar. Around one in 10 ANZ Bank customers do their banking exclusively on their mobile devices. Its competitors are all going through similar growth in mobile banking, with Westpac boasting 1.58 million customers engaging the bank through mobile devices."

Federal Bank rolls out mobile fund transfer facility to merchants
"Federal Bank has launched a funds transfer facility to merchants and enterprises through mobile phone. The Kochi-based private sector lender’s IMPS-Merchant Payment Service, in association with National Payment Corporation of India, will enable customers to use their mobile phones to access bank accounts and transfer funds."

PC Financial to launch a mobile banking app “in the upcoming months”
"While some Canadian banking institutions are already plugging away at mobile payments, PC Financial is wrestling with launching a mobile app. The Loblaws driven financial service, provided by CIBC, has approximately 2.3 million customers and some people have been requesting an app for months. Having a mobile banking app is basically standard these days. Offering simple features like checking account status, transfer funds, find ATM’s or contacting the closest branch makes the banking experience a more pleasant one."

Going mobile
"First National Bank customers are now able to track their spending habits, check their balance and make electronic bill payments from their smartphones. FNB has created an enhanced Online Banking System and also introduced Mobile Banking. 'For generations, personal service has been the signature of The First National Bank of Brundidge,' said John Ramage, senior vice president of FNB."

Use of Mobile Banking Continues to Grow: Canadian Bankers Association
"The Canadian Bankers Association (CBA) today released the results of its latest study on How Canadians Bank, which explores the role that modern technologies are playing in consumer banking. The results reveal that Canadians continue to embrace new approaches to banking and see these innovations as adding value to their daily banking. Going forward, the research suggests change will continue, driven by the convenience of the Internet, and led by younger generations who tend to be the first adapters."

Mobile Phones Empowering the Rural Poor through Mobile Banking
"Mobile phones are as numerous in Rwanda as the beautiful panoramic views of its famous 'Thousand Hills'. This was all the more confirmed as Vestine Nyirabagande, Urwego Opportunity Bank’s (UOB) client, sat with a mobile phone on her lap. She laughed when asked how many of her neighbors have mobile phones. 'I don’t think there is anyone in this area who doesn’t have a mobile phone!' she said."

St George customers getting smarter and smarter with their banking
"The St George Bank says it is seeing an “unprecedented demand” from its customers wanting to do as much of their banking as possible on their smartphones, and that more than 60,000 of its 400,000 mobile banking customers are already only using their smartphone to do their banking."

International Business Machines Corp. : Leading Pakistan Mobile Banking Provider Uses IBM Cloud to Expand Delivery of Secure Financial Services on Mobile Phones
"IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that Monet, one of Pakistan's leading mobile-commerce providers, has selected a customized IBM cloud-based solution that will enable the company to enhance service efficiency and expand its presence across the country. Launched in 2012, Monet provides banks, mobile network operators and branchless banking agents in Pakistan with a technology platform that offers end-users a simple interface through which they can access a wide range of financial services on their mobile phones."

Surviscor Names CIBC as the Top Firm for Mobile Banking Services in Canada
"Canadians are relying more and more on mobile devices to access banking services, and CIBC is leading the charge according to Surviscor Inc. Among the big six banks in Canada, CIBC ranked #1 in Surviscor's inaugural Mobile Banking scorCard(TM), a comprehensive and objective assessment of features and functionality in the fastest growing delivery channel for e-banking. CIBC was closely followed by Scotiabank in second place, with National Bank rounding out the top three."

Fiserv helps Cambodian bank offer mobile banking, payments to unbanked
"Financial services tech provider Fiserv Inc. is helping Cambodia's ACLEDA Bank Plc. to extend its mobile banking and payments service to the unbanked using Fiserv's Mobiliti Reach tool. Fiserv said ACLEDA has offered Fiserv-supported mobile financial services to since 2010 but will now offer those services to consumers with no existing banking relationship of any kind."

Canadians are Slowly but Surely Becoming Comfortable with Mobile Banking, Study Suggests
"Smartphone ownership and mobile banking usage continue to rise in Canada, according to a new poll conducted by Harris/Decima for CIBC, who is Rogers' partner for Suretap, a mobile payments service. At least 44% of Canadians now own a smarthone, the study suggests, up significantly from 33% in 2011. Among those aged 18 to 24, 77% own one."

Call to regulate mobile phone banking
"THE government should come up with legislation to regulate mobile banking activities in the country to prevent service providers from abusing the system, a senior banking official has said. Since the adoption of multiple foreign currencies in 2009, Zimbabwe has witnessed a proliferation of mobile banking systems modelled on the one used in Kenya called M-PESA."

Standard Bank skips along beaten digital path
"Standard Bank says its mobile banking application has achieved 160,000 downloads since its launch four months ago. This activity, the bank says, translates into R1.3 billion transactions through this channel since it launched on 27 June 2012. It also announced that its banking app, which is available on iOS, Android, and BlackBerry, would also be the first SA banking app in the Windows 8 app store."

Survey reveals only 1 in 4 expats using mobile banking services abroad
"A recent survey conducted by ExpatForum.com in conjunction with Barclays International showed that most expats “never use” mobile banking tools, despite holding several bank accounts in different countries. The study polled 10,000 expats to find out how they manage their finances while working abroad. Of the respondents, 73% said they “never” accessed their bank accounts from a smartphone or tablet device, 17% reported that they “occasionally” used mobile banking platforms, and “10%” “frequently” checked bank accounts while on the go."

Metaforic to Demonstrate Mobile Software Security at FinovateAsia
"Metaforic, the innovative software security company, today announced that it will demonstrate its latest technology at FinovateAsia on November 6. The demonstration will showcase Metaforic’s ability to detect and respond to a range of security threats against mobile financial applications. Mobile app security is becoming increasingly critical as mobile services and transactions increase. In the latest incident, NatWest Bank had to pull its mobile banking app after fraudsters managed to steal thousands of pounds from customers."

Bank of Africa selects Clear2Pay's mobile internet banking platform
"Bank of Africa, a subsidiary of BMCE Bank, has added Clear2Pay's Mobile Internet Banking (MIB) technology to help its customers with mobile financial services in 13 launching countries. The bank witnessed a rapid growth in business covering 14 geographies in the African continent, where it manages 1.4 million bank accounts, an increase of 24% since 2011. The new system, which is capable to integrate with the bank's existing e-Banking application, will also help to trim operational costs, while boosting customer satisfaction."

Mobirl on massive mobile awareness campaign
"With the telecommunication companies ramping up their services to ensure that our mobile devices stay connected, the private sector in Trinidad and Tobago is gradually introducing mobile applications and services to communicate with its customers and more importantly increase operational excellence for the business. Only two of our banks have mobile offerings today—First Citizens Bank and Scotiabank. First Citizens Bank’s mobile banking services allows its customers to access banking information on the go. This service is not only for customers with smartphones but extends to all cellphone owners. Account information is sent via text messages alerting customers of changes to their bank accounts including deposits such as salaries."

The Future of Mobile Banking
"Organised by Marketforce and the Institute of Economic Affairs, London has hosted on May 29 the second annual conference addressing the future of mobile banking. Opening the first session was Aman Narain (Global Head of internet and mobile banking, Standard Charted) who shared that they first began by establishing ‘war rooms’ with a sign reading 'World’s best internet bank.'”

Mobile Banking Helps Africa Advance
"The economic growth rate across sub-Saharan Africa has remained at more than five percent in recent years despite the ongoing global recession. Myriad macroeconomic explanations help explain this progress, but one intriguing element that is both underappreciated and undervalued involves a widget that fits in your pocket: the cell phone. The ability of cheap, easy-to-use cellular technology to connect poverty-stricken populations to the benefits of globalization generally, and banking more specifically, has yielded unprecedented new economic opportunities across the Global South."

ASB named 'New Zealand's best online bank'
"ASB has been honoured as New Zealand's best online bank by independent researcher CANSTAR in its first ever review of the nation's online banking market. ASB was confirmed as the clear winner among New Zealand financial institutions based on a comprehensive review of the bank's internet banking, website and mobile services."

Bangalore-Based Bank Chooses IBM Cloud for Core Banking Solutions
"IBM IBM +0.36% today announced that Sree Charan Souharda Cooperative Bank has selected IBM SmartCloud to help it meet growing demand, add new customer services and to centralize mission-critical operations such as real-time transaction processing across its five branches in Bangalore."

The Hard Sell: NatWest Mobile Banking
"Poor Sarah (well, she was Sarah when she lived in Godalming, but after her gap year she renamed herself Skye; it's just so much more her). She has had to call her dad for money to pay an angry hotel owner after she carelessly dropped an envelope full of Euros in a Moroccan souk while buying a scarf. Well, she was thinking about buying a scarf. But then,–"

IBM's Social Innovation Is Supporting 'Smarter Banking' In Kenya
"IBM is helping Kenyan sugar cane cutters through its social innovation support of a mobile banking system. It enables these workers to earn more money. Normally, a sugar cane farm would have to shut down for two or three days a month to enable its cane cutters to travel to a bank branch and wait in a long queue to deposit their pay. Now, with the introduction of mobile banking, the cane cutters can keep working and monitor their pay deposit on their phones. The mobile banking also allows them to access cash from local agents, buy at local shops and transfer money to others."

Mobile money breakthrough predicted for Jamaica
"An American economist is predicting that the introduction of mobile money services in Jamaica will find a ready market because of the scarcity of user-friendly financial services on the island. The economist, Dr Dawn Elliott, made the forecast based on a survey which found that only a fraction of the Jamaican population has access to financial services, which limits their participation in the economy."

Top 10 Posts from the CGAP Technology Blog in 2011
"One of the exciting and yet challenging aspects of the branchless banking industry is how fast things change. Topics discussed just 3 months ago can seem out of date today. That’s why it’s fun to look back over the topics we blogged about in 2011 starting from last January to see how the discussion has evolved over the last 12 months. Here are just a few of the blogs you may have missed or you may be interested in reading again:"

Web Browser the Most Popular Mobile Banking Channel
"A Javelin report finds that more customers access mobile banking via a mobil browser, though downloadable apps are gaining and considered more secure. The mobile Web browser is the most widely used mobile banking channel and is perceived by consumers to be the most secure, according to Javelin Strategy & Research's Mobile Banking Security report issued this week. The survey evaluated the specific security issues mobile banking customers face when using three mobile banking channels: Web browser, app, and SMS texting."

A turning point in the history of mobile financial services
"With 2011 drawing to a close, it’s clear that the year has seen exciting changes in mobile banking and payments, with innovative advancements to enhance the consumer experience being delivered. In particular, there have been positive developments from UK banks and retailers in the mobile banking space, culminating in the launch of Lloyds TSB’s successful new banking app. Earlier in the year, ING Direct paved the way for banking innovation, with the news that the organisation is offering the use of ‘Bump’ technologies to transfer funds in a simple and convenient manner."

Charles Schwab Expands Mobile Banking and Investing Offerings with New App for the iPad
"Expanding its suite of integrated banking and brokerage mobile services for investors, Charles Schwab today announced that a new Schwab app for the iPad is now available for download. iPad users will now be able to transfer funds between Schwab Bank and brokerage accounts, manage their trades and keep up with market information with automatically updating quotes and the latest financial news through their Schwab app."

UBA reaffirms preparedness to implement CBN’s cashless policy
"With barely five days before the commencement of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) ‘Cashless Lagos’ pilot scheme geared towards reducing the cost of managing cash in the economy, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has restated its preparedness to fully implement the policy, claiming that time is long overdue for customers, particularly small depositors, to fully embrace self-service electronic banking services. In July, the bank had adopted critical measures to encourage its customers to embrace electronic channels."

RBI Removes INR 50K Cap on Mobile Banking Transactions
"RBI (Reserve Bank of India) has removed INR 50,000 cap on mobile banking transactions. However, banks may place per transaction limits based on their own risk perception with the approval of its Board.

Mobile banking in India is set to generate fee-based income of Rs 20,250 crore over the next five years, mainly driven by lower transaction cost, favourable regulatory environment. By 2015, 350ドル billion in payment and banking transactions could flow through mobile phones, compared with about 235ドル billion of total credit- and debit-card transactions today."

Halifax and RBS launch mobile banking apps
"The two banks are responding to the fast-paced growth of smartphones in the UK, with more than a third of people using a smartphone. The apps will be available across all popular smartphone platforms, including Blackberry, Apple, Android and Nokia. The apps will allow customers to access their any of their accounts with Halifax or RBS, including personal accounts, savings accounts and credit cards."

African Banks Turn to IBM to Support New Wave of Innovation in Banking Services
"Over the last six months IBM has signed contracts with five of Kenya's leading banks: Credit Bank, Co-operative Bank, Family Bank, National Bank of Kenya and National Industrial Credit (NIC) Bank. The agreements are amongst more than 20 similar deals that IBM has signed with banks across Africa in 2011 in line with the rapid growth of the financial services sector and as technology enables a wave of innovation in African banking. IBM is also working with Africa's leading telco companies to help provide financial services based on increasingly widespread mobile devices. For example, through its partnership with Vodafone, IBM is helping Safaricom to provide its M-PESA mobile money service to over 15 million customers in East Africa."

Wachovia introduces its Mobile CyberInquiry service
"Wachovia presented its Mobile CyberInquiry service to its correspondent banking customers, providing mobile access to their account information at the 2009 SIBOS conference in Hong Kong in a move to expand its business. So, from now, global financial institutions are enabled to view real time balances, account postings and transaction details with mobile devices."

Arvest Bank 5,000ドル Giveaway
"Arvest Bank is hosting a 5,000ドル Giveaway when you sign up and use their mobile banking feature. This promotion is only available to current customers who are at least 18 years of age. If you are in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Southeast Kansas and Southern Missouri and you bank with Arvest Bank, then you should most definitely give this a shot. What have you got to lose anyway?"

Sybase And IBM Collaborate To Further Global Mobile Commerce Opportunities
"As mCommerce moves beyond early adopters, IBM’s global reach, strong client relationships and deep industry expertise, coupled with Sybase’s leading end-to-end mCommerce solution and unrivalled global operator reach and Financial Services customer base, the companies will be able to provide flexibility and choice of mobile banking, mobile payment and mobile remittance offerings to an increasing number of customers."

Fiserv opens Asia Pacific support centre for m and e-banking services
"ocated in Singapore at the company's regional headquarters, the centre will deliver local implementation and support expertise, complementing similar services already available at Fiserv locations in India and Australia. Fiserv online and mobile banking solutions are currently used by some of the largest and most innovative banks in Malaysia, Thailand and Australia. The new regional support centre will provide greater access to these and other Fiserv solutions and will provide local support to more financial institutions in the region."

Here are a few interesting articles.

Many Inputs as Citi Thinks Mobile in U.S.
"Citigroup Inc., which is taking a variety of approaches as it introduces its mobile banking services around the world, plans to put to work the knowledge gained abroad as it fine-tunes its U.S. offerings."

I was drawn to the following quote...

"The market is giving us feedback," about consumers' usage habits, Mr. Kietz said, and clear support for the browser model is "defining mobile banking in the U.S. in the near term."

Japan’s super-advanced mobile web: Too unique to serve as a global blueprint?
"In Japan, since 2006 more people have been accessing the web through cell phones than through PCs. Is this a picture of things to come in other countries?"

IBM Makes Mobile Push
"When it comes to big-business technology, you could argue it’s not a party until IBM shows up. Not only is Big Blue the top seller of business software, its services division is also the biggest global provider of hands-on tech advice. So when IBM (IBM) makes big mobile announcement, it’s worth a listen."