Let’s face it, if you don’t already own a smartphone… you will.  And further if you don’t already use a banking app to do basic banking functions… you will!  It’s a forgone conclusion that the world is moving to mobile – and if you don’t jump on that bandwagon, it will not look back to see who’s left in the dust.

So, now that we are clear the mobile revolution is here and assuming we are avid participants, let’s dive into the question of, “How can I trust that my bank will do what is needed to deliver an A+ mobile banking experience?”

Well, the truth really is in the pudding.  First from a mobile banking experience, I want a site that makes me feel comfortable.  I need a site that has a beautiful UI (user interface) and understands that I’m there to perform a task.   No better way to display that than giving users the options they need while doing a bit of hand holding to lead them in the right direction.

Take a look at some of the banking app home pages of some of the On Ideas employees.  Does the look and feel make you trust one app more or less than another?

Second, lets talk about the user experience.  If I’m able to do tasks that I want, without ANY headache and pain, then how does that correlate to trusting my bank?

It’s actually simple… you learn to trust that your bank is going to provide you with the necessary steps to accomplish depositing checks, transferring money, checking balances, etc.  If I can’t perform the tasks I need on a day to day basis – then tell me how am I supposed to trust that my bank has “my back”?

Last, lets talk about technology.  In today’s world it seems there is a new technology to learn about every week.  Well, that is certainly true for mobile banking.  Today, you might check your balance, make a transfer or deposit a check by taking a photo.  But tomorrow’s technology is approaching fast.  Soon, you’ll be able to scan your bankcard by opening your app – no longer will you need a debit card.   The question to ask is whether your bank is ready to take the next step – and what are they doing to insure that you as a consumer have the tools you need to keep up with all the new technology?

In conclusion there are several points to take from this, but for the sake of this post, let‘s review 3 that will give you the power and understanding to trust your bank is making the right decisions when it comes to mobile banking:

1. Good Design:  It’s simple, have you ever wanted to make a purchase from a website that had a poor design?  Maybe you did make the purchase, but you thought twice I guarantee.
2. Exceptional UX:  With the emergence of mobile, from a banking perspective, User Experience is more important than ever.  If you struggle to do daily tasks on an application provided by the person holding your hand, chances are your level of satisfaction and trust in that authority will diminish.
3. Cutting Edge Technology: What are the features you need when it comes to mobile banking?  Chances are your bank is trying to implement them.  But does it work?  It is smooth?

Trusting your bank means these features work without hiccups, look good and perform exactly as expected.   Trusting your bank means that they truly are holding your hand as you work through tasks on a mobile device.   We as consumers trust our banks to be there for us.  We put trust in them that we don’t put in anyone else.  We provide them with our hard earned dollars and expect services we can rely on in return.

I’m a firm believer that the future of mobile banking will be far more than simple transactional tasks.  It will feature money management tools, advice and spending separated by category.  What will these mobile banking features do to accountants and wealth management jobs?  Is that the future of mobile banking?  The question we should be asking is; “What steps are my bank taking to position themselves in the future of mobile banking?”