Good bank for web-banking? (no phones used)

[ThatDevAaron]

So we dont bank on smart phones etc, only though web browsers.

We need a good bank, most dont support, or really hate internet banking, and I want some good options.

DOWNLOADING A BANKING APP MUST NOT BE AN OPTION.

 

[fisicx]

Pretty much all banks use an app for most functions. And even banking via browsers often requires 2FA which needs a phone.

However, NatWest has a decent business bank account.

 

[Optegris]

So we dont bank on smart phones etc, only though web browsers.

We need a good bank, most dont support, or really hate internet banking, and I want some good options.

DOWNLOADING A BANKING APP MUST NOT BE AN OPTION.

Why not an app? I'm genuinely curious. I've been with Monzo for 5 or 6 years now and it is by far one of the best banks I have ever used. Restricting yourself like this gives you little choice...

 

[Ozzy]

Why not an app? I'm genuinely curious.

I'm also curious.
I think today you're going to struggle to find a bank that doesn't push (force) you down the App route for day to day banking. Branches closes, cuts in customer support staffing, and so the list goes on - banking has become a digital only services much these days.

 

[DontAsk]

Even if you don't need an app you will almost certainly need a phone for authentication.

Nationwide still support card readers as well as phones, for personal accounts, but I don't know if they still issue then to new customers.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Not having an app probably rules out all of the challenger/fintechs, keeping you to only high street.

 

[KM-Tiger]

Even if you don't need an app you will almost certainly need a phone for authentication.

Not necessarily. HSBC do browser banking and 2FA is taken care of by a physical device, so no phone needed.

 

[John Martin]

I use Wise for some of my banking. No need to download an app, and you can operate accounts in multiple currencies and easily convert and send money from one to another. Exchange rates are much better than high street banks too.

 

[David Griffiths]

Not necessarily. HSBC do browser banking and 2FA is taken care of by a physical device, so no phone needed.

This is true of Barclays as well, which is what I currently use, and it's also been true of Lloyds and Natwest which I've used either personally or with clients in the past. They all used a device which required your debit card to be inserted and then provided the code to log in. From memory, Santander didn't require an app either.

All of the above willl have their apps, but they are not pre-requisites to using their service.

 

[DontAsk]

From memory, Santander didn't require an app either.

But you do need a phone for the pass code.

 

[John Martin]

I have a HSBC personal account which I log into with a keypad device.

I'm sick to death of them pestering me every time I log in, asking me if I want to 'Upgrade' to logging in with their banking app. No I don't want their stupid app.

For a start I don't have a smart phone, and even if I did, how is logging on using a less secure wireless setup (on a device that could easily be lost or stolen) an 'upgrade' to logging on my home computer over a more secure and more reliable ethernet connection?

I suspect their constant pestering has less to do with security, and more to do with them being able to follow my every move with all the tracking capabilities hidden in the app.

 

[David Griffiths]

But you do need a phone for the pass code.

Fair enough. It's a few years since I used it, with a client, and there was no pass code required then.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

With the rise of 2FA and improved/increased security, a phone (for text/call/authenticator/app etc) is becoming relatively standard, even for access to web services.

 

[fisicx]

Very often when you buy things online you will be asked to approve the purchase using the app.

I can understand why people don’t want apps but having one makes online banking and purchasing so much easier. And I can have all my bank accounts available in one app. No need to switch apps.

 

[Gecko001]

Regarding apps, I try to avoid them if I can. The only apps I use are Youtube and WhatsAp. I tried a few others when I first got my smartphone, but they did not make things easier at all in my view compared to just using the website by going into a browser on my smartphone. Many sites try to get you to download their app by clever techniques, such as pop-ups or hiding the fact that you can use the site without downloading their app.

So why do these sites try so hard to get you to download their app? Is it because they feel altruistic towards their customers and want to help them get a better experience while using their service? I very much doubt it.

 

[BusterBloodvessel]

Regarding apps, I try to avoid them if I can. The only apps I use are Youtube and WhatsAp. I tried a few others when I first got my smartphone, but they did not make things easier at all in my view compared to just using the website by going into a browser on my smartphone.

I appreciate we're going off topic here but I'm afraid this is just nonsense.

- Instant login through facial ID or passcode on app isn't easier than typing in an email address and password?
- Layout and styling in an app is generally better than even a mobile enabled website
- Responsiveness and speed generally faster
- Offline availability of content
- Push notifications to alert me of issues/opportunities
- Background operation so services continue whilst I use my phone for other stuff.

That's just half a dozen reasons I've thought of in under 2 minutes why apps can be better than websites. I appreciate not wanting to be FORCED to use an app, but to stubbornly refuse to use them just because you can use a website is just madness.

Back on topic, I too would love to know what possible reason the OP can have for not wanting a banking app.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

So why do these sites try so hard to get you to download their app?

Because that is their business model - online only and convenient for their target audience!!

 

[John Martin]

That's just half a dozen reasons I've thought of in under 2 minutes why apps can be better than websites. I appreciate not wanting to be FORCED to use an app, but to stubbornly refuse to use them just because you can use a website is just madness.

Back on topic, I too would love to know what possible reason the OP can have for not wanting a banking app.

Ever wondered why your battery goes flat faster than a can of coke at a summer picnic?

This video on youtube is one very good reason NOT to use apps...

"Why is your phone SECRETLY connecting to these sites to TRACK you?"

​

 

[BusterBloodvessel]

Why is your phone SECRETLY connecting to these sites to TRACK you

More nonsense. There's tracking and data going on left right and centre through your Alexa, mobile phone, internet, whatever.

That's irrelevant to the fact that using an app is generally easier/faster than using a website on mobile.

 

[ThatDevAaron]

Ever wondered why your battery goes flat faster than a can of coke at a summer picnic?

This video on youtube is one very good reason NOT to use apps...

"Why is your phone SECRETLY connecting to these sites to TRACK you?"

​

lmao where is bro getting his information from

 

[fisicx]

Ever wondered why your battery goes flat faster than a can of coke at a summer picnic?

​

Mine doesn’t. If you take time to properly configure your phone battery life will be much better.

For starters turn off all background apps.

And tracking takes place whatever you do. Your TV for example knows far more about you that you would like. Walk into a shop and you are being monitored.

 

[Gecko001]

Because that is their business model - online only and convenient for their target audience!!

Maybe you should add "and gullible audience".

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Maybe you should add "and gullible audience".

Why?

 

[Gecko001]

Why?

For the reasons mentioned above by several other members about tracking. Also, often there is no reason to get these downloaded apps, as the website is just as handy and often better than the app. When I say better, I mean has fewer adverts, faster, has more features and easier to navigate.

Also, the apps are set up to be addictive. As you say they "target" a certain audience.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

often there is no reason to get these downloaded apps

In almost every case, you cannot apply for a modern/fintech account without an app!

the apps are set up to be addictive.

How can a banking app become addictive?

 

[fisicx]

For the reasons mentioned above by several other members about tracking. Also, often there is no reason to get these downloaded apps, as the website is just as handy and often better than the app. When I say better, I mean has fewer adverts, faster, has more features and easier to navigate.

Also, the apps are set up to be addictive. As you say they "target" a certain audience.

My banking app is far easier to use than the desktop. And I can set up and make payments anywhere without lugging around my laptop. There are no adverts. Tracking on desktop is exactly the same as using a banking app.

How is a banking app addictive?

 

[Gecko001]

I was talking about apps in general and comparing them with using them with a service's own website through a browser on your phone, not comparing them with them on a laptop. I mentioned that a few times in my posts above. For example, the Imdb website viewed on a smartphone is very easy to navigate. I have a friend who always uses the Imdb app, which they think is fine, but it is, in my view, not as good as going to the Imdb website on your Smartphone.

The fact that you have to download an app rather than just sign into a site, be it a banking site or any other site, must surely come with more risks. Your banking app might be very good, but are others as good as yours?

 

[fisicx]

Banking apps are regulated by the FCA. They are just as secure (and generally more so) than desktop banking.

I agree that some apps (especially gaming) can be addictive but SM and entertainment websites are just as bad.

This thread however is about banking not all the other cruft found online.

 

[Russ Michaels]

I appreciate we're going off topic here but I'm afraid this is just nonsense.

- Instant login through facial ID or passcode on app isn't easier than typing in an email address and password?
- Layout and styling in an app is generally better than even a mobile enabled website
- Responsiveness and speed generally faster
- Offline availability of content
- Push notifications to alert me of issues/opportunities
- Background operation so services continue whilst I use my phone for other stuff.

That's just half a dozen reasons I've thought of in under 2 minutes why apps can be better than websites. I appreciate not wanting to be FORCED to use an app, but to stubbornly refuse to use them just because you can use a website is just madness.

Back on topic, I too would love to know what possible reason the OP can have for not wanting a banking app.

Yep all true, and the biggest one of all is security.
People getting scammed and their accounts hacked is an eBay growing issue.

 

[fisicx]

Yep all true, and the biggest one of all is security.
People getting scammed and their accounts hacked is an eBay growing issue.

Using 2FA helps

 

[DontAsk]

Using 2FA helps

Not if you are phished into going to a fake site that intercepts/relays the 2FA messages. All to easy and common, unfortunately.

 

[David Griffiths]

We had a cheque come in today from HMRC - apparently they don't have our bank details to make direct payment (and that's now sorted)

I paid the cheque into our account using the phone app. If that had not been possible it would have required a 30 mile round trip to the nearest branch, plus the hassle and cost of parking in the city centre. We aren't in the back of beyond and not so long ago there were four now closed branches much closer than that. (I actually made the trip last year to find out that the counter was closed due to a "technical issue" and the trip was a complete waste of time.)

I'm quite happy to have the app for the benefits that it gives.

 

[eteb3]

If that had not been possible it would have required a 30 mile round trip to the nearest branch, plus the hassle and cost of parking in the city centre.

I always post them to the branch. Include a pay-in slip (if you're still issued with them) or a cover letter. They go to the central waste processing centre; never had an issue.

You may be able to skim a day off the process by looking up the published address for that sort code and sending directly there.

 

[fisicx]

You may be able to skim a day off the process…

Or scan using an app and get the cheque processed in minutes.

 

[eteb3]

Or scan using an app

Well yes, but @ThatDevAaron was insistent he didn’t want one

 

[DontAsk]

Or scan using an app and get the cheque processed in minutes.

Limited with some banks, e.g. cheques up to a maximum of £1000.

 

[eteb3]

Limited with some banks, e.g. cheques up to a maximum of £1000.

Because you can successfully scan an electronic image of the cheque on your laptop screen, so there’s little protection against fraud.

I’ve paid a remote employee that way when we didn’t have internet banking: sent him a photo of the cheque, and he scanned the photo into his app. I think the paper original is still in my desk.

 

[Gecko001]

This thread has gone down the rabbit hole of discussing mobile online banking apps (I am as guilty as anyone), but the OP mentioned that they do not want to use apps or mobile phones.

Maybe the OP has an accounts department and everything is run by desktop or laptop computers. A very common set-up for a business as far as I can see.

 

[DontAsk]

Maybe the OP has an accounts department and everything is run by desktop or laptop computers. A very common set-up for a business as far as I can see.

Surely someone would have a mobile 'phone.

I read it as an out and out aversion to using the apps.

 

[John Martin]

I have a mobile but it's not a smart phone, so that's why I don't use mobile apps.