Review 2 – Barclays Mobile Banking App

About

Barclays Mobile Banking App is an application available on Apple, Android and Windows devices for Barclays customers over the age of 16. This app allows you to complete many tasks whilst you’re on the go and don’t have time to call up or visit a branch.

How it works

To activate the Barclays online banking app, you must complete the following basic steps:
1. Download the app from the suitable app store
2. Enter your bank details, eg. Account Number and Sort Code
3. Verify your mobile number
4. Finally, you must authenticate your details using either a PINsentry card reader, popping into a branch, or by going to a cash machine

Once these steps have been completed, you’ll be able to access the app and all of its many features, some of these include:

  • Start/cancel standing orders
  • Pay new and existing payees
  • View your account balance and transactions
  • Transferring money between accounts
  • Managing Direct Debits
  • Report your card lost or stolen
  • Checking your eligibility for a loan

Advantages

  • Reporting your card lost of stolen – this is a very important feature, especially with many cards being contactless today which makes it easier for money to stolen as a PIN number isn’t required, so this feature makes it quick and easy for a lost/stolen card to be cancelled – minimising the risk of fraudulent activity.
  • Viewing your account balance – this is helpful when making sure it’s correct as the app also shows your previous transactions, this allows you to keep an eye on the transactions taking place to make sure they’re only the one’s you’re making and no suspicious activity is happening within your bank account.
  • Paying new and existing payees – personally, i would say that this is the most useful feature of the application because it can really help you out if you’re completing every day activities amongst friends but you’ve forgotten your bank card/money. The app allows you to set up payees quickly and simply, then transfer the desired amount of money you wish to send which will transfer instantly – the perfect feature when you’re in trouble.

Disadvantages

Although there are many advantages to the Barclays online banking app, there are also a few drawbacks. Like all online customer service, you don’t get the same direct face-to-face contact as if you would if you went into a Barclays branch of if you called up which can make resolving any problems take longer, making it less efficient. The app does have an online chat where you can write a message and a Barclays member of staff will reply to your query, trying to resolve it, the only problem with this is that it can take a while to get a response and it is easy to get disconnected as strong internet connection is essential to use this application.

Another drawback to online banking is the risk of fraud as you’re creating more ways to access your personal bank details, making you more susceptible, however, the Barclays online banking app has a section telling you about their ‘Mobile Banking Guarantee’ – outlining what would happen if you were a victim you fraud and how they would have you, this is such a useful feature as it’s keeping the customer informed which will help them worry less.

Conclusion

In conclusion, although needing a strong internet connection to carry out any task on this application is a big drawback, i feel as if it has been outweighed by the many benefits which make this app so convenient.

REFERENCES

  • MOBILE BANKING APP | BARCLAYS
    In-text: (Barclays.co.uk, 2016)
    Your Bibliography: Barclays.co.uk. (2016). Mobile banking app | Barclays. [online] Available at: http://www.barclays.co.uk/BarclaysMobileBanking/MobileBankingapp/P1242609123821 [Accessed 18 Nov. 2016].