Is banking by smart phone faster?

More banks are allowing customers to deposit checks from their mobile devices. Citibank is one of the latest. Reuters' Felix Salmon puts its app to the test to see if it's better than an old-fashioned trip to the bank. The results are surprising.

Is outsourcing the cause of the RBS debacle?

"Is outsourcing the cause of the RBS debacle?" This is the question posed by Robert Preston, BBC’s Business Editor about the ongoing problems at RBS.

Royal Bank of Scotland says it has fixed what it calls the "technical failure" that has disrupted banking services for millions of NatWest, RBS and Ulster Bank customers on a scale and for longer than has ever happened at any British bank since they computerised.

That aside, what was the real cause of the problem? Read Robert Preston's thoughts HERE.

Natwest glitch: RBS chief Stephen Hester faces pressure to explain fault to public

RBS chief executive Stephen Hester has apologised for technical problems which left customers of the group's banks unable to pay bills or access money.

He is under pressure to give a public account of the breakdown of the bank’s computer systems as politicians and small businesses attacked the bank’s failures and the crisis entered its sixth day.

Welsh village being used in mobile wallet tests

A small village in South Wales without a single cash machine has been chosen as the test-bed for a new mobile wallet service from O2.

Rhiwbina was chosen from villages across the UK to demonstrate how the newly launched O2 Wallet could help the 11,000 residents who often find themselves short of cash at the most inconvenient moments.

The O2 Wallet, launched last month, allows users to send and receive money, compare prices and shop via their mobile phone.

Residents of Rhiwbina were challenged to use their digital wallets in everyday situations, such as paying back IOUs, buying a round of drinks in the pub or giving pocket money to their teenagers.

James Le Brocq, managing director at O2 Money, believes the Wallet can solve a variety of everyday money issues for consumers who find themselves strapped for cash in rural backwaters.

Watch this video to see how the O2 Wallet app works.

How Moody’s bank downgrades affect you

Some think Moody's downgrades of major banks will hurt lending but others think the affect will be minor. What do you think?

Is this the bank of the future?

Polish Bank Alior has unveiled a digital bank that includes Facebook payments and an "entertainment area."

Alior's virtual branches are aimed at younger, tech savvy consumers. Features of the digital bank include the ability to speak to or text bank staff, send p2p payments through Facebook and an entertainment area, where users can watch films, listen to music and play games.

Alior Bank is pitching the Alior Sync as a new type of financial services firm, available anytime, anywhere, for a young, digitally savvy customer base.

Alior Sync is replacing physical branches with a virtual one that can be accessed through its website. The site contains a tab showing users how many bank staff are available to talk and through which medium - video, audio or text chat. When a customer clicks on an option they are put through to a member of staff and a screen where they can carry out transactions.



Additional to regular online banking features, Alior Sync has also developed Android and iOS mobile apps that let customers check their finances, transfer funds and pay invoices using their mobile’s camera.



A finance management tool is also offered, which can import account histories from other banks, and is aimed at assisting customers keep track of their budget. A “payments assistant” helps control spending and alerts users when transactions occur.

The bank has also worked with vendor IND Group on an app that lets customers transfer money directly to friends through Facebook photos without having to leave the page. The transactions are authorized using one-time codes sent via text messages and captcha. PayPal payments can also be made via e-mail.



Alior Sync has also added an entertainment area where users can watch films, listen to music and play games.

Is this the bank branch of the future?

ATM innovation – Using QR codes – Bank volunteers wanted

NCR is looking for banks to help pilot their new Mobile Cash Withdrawal software using QR Codes. The software will be available later this year for initial integrations into NCR APTRA ATM software platforms. The bank’s customers can utilize a standalone mobile app for cash withdrawals or NCR will integrate the solution into the bank’s mobile banking system so that consumers can use the bank’s mobile banking app as an ATM interface. NCR claim that with this system the entire ATM transaction can take less than 10 seconds. Watch the concept in the following video.

If you are a bank and are interested in this pilot, contact details are provided at the end of the video.

In- House Training

June has already dawned on us – 2012 is almost half gone. Before we know it the summer vacations will be here (for those in the Northern Hemisphere). For those in Southern parts, mid-year is that tipping point that begins the count-down to the Year End holidays.

I have a simple question for you. Are you going to achieve your Staff Training targets for 2012?

One of the most effective ways to do this is through In-House Training. In-House Training provides the most cost effective vehicle for maximizing your training budgets and your training reach. It is, all said and done, the cheapest way to get the most staff trained for the least dollar spend. For details and costing of how much you can save, please read our blog post "Road Trip or Staying Put? Why training in-house makes sense".

Citadel Advantage provides a comprehensive range of training courses covering the various aspects of Operations Risk Management and Compliance for commercial and central banks, as well as bank Payment Systems and all associated Back Office operations activities.

In-house courses and workshops can be customized to ensure that they meet your unique needs. Our courses are aimed at helping you cope with the many challenges you face.

Your staff is your greatest asset. In-house training allows you to minimize costs while increasing its effectiveness and impact on your staff. If you thought in-house training was just for the other guy or that your institution was too small, think again! We'll come to you, wherever and whenever you need.

Your team needs training. Why not hold a private course? You will find that our programs exceptionally cost effective - and what could be more important in these financial times. In-house training makes more than common sense, it makes economic sense.

All our public courses are available as in-house courses. For a full range of what we offer please see our course catalog by clicking HERE.

We are also able to tailor our courses to your company's / bank's specific requirements. We'll work with you to develop either a one-time or a long-term training program.

For a detailed needs analysis and quotation, please call our Principal Associate Richard Barr on;

• Asia Pacific: +852 8175 7916

• Europe: +44 20 7193 5913

• North America: +1 408 627 7607

OR e-mail him at: richard@citadeladvantage.com

The world in 2050

"MEGACHANGE", a new book from The Economist, imagines how the world will look in 2050. Economist book's editor, Daniel Franklin, provided a summary of its findings.

Megachange: The World in 2050

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