The mobile software will allow ING clients to check account balances and transfer funds using an Apple iPhone or web-ready BlackBerry. Most ING customers are already accustomed to transferring money online, given that the firm has no retail branches in Canada.
Offering our clients the option of saving anywhere is an exciting frontier, commented Peter Aceto, the president and CEO of ING Direct Canada.
Canada's mainstream banks are also on the road to offering mobile banking, with Royal Bank of Canada, Scotiabank, and TD Canada Trust providing text alerts and applications to help users find the nearest branch. CIBC, meanwhile, has a full-fledged iPhone application allowing users to check balances, transfer money between accounts, pay bills, and sent email money transfers.
As smartphones continue to increase in popularity, approximately 9% of Canadians now have a mobile banking account and a further 20% plan to start paying bills on their mobile device within the next year.
