According to a new survey of Web financial
services, Credit Suisse of
Switzerland and Royal Bank of Canada
are the world leaders in provision of advanced Internet-based financial
services.
UK-based Lafferty Information and Research Group conducted what is believed
to be the most comprehensive global survey yet on the penetration of
Web-based services into banking and financial services.
The study covered 50 of the largest banks in Europe and 50 banks in North
America, as well as a number of insurance and Internet securities broking
sites. Criteria included interactivity, content, navigation, speed, and
design.
According to Lafferty, The high ratings for Royal Bank and Credit Suisse
were due in part to the fact that they are among the select few that
provide a directly accessible page with current interest rates for savings
and loan products.
They say that a huge gulf exists between the banks and insurance companies
with customer-focused Web services that optimize the medium, and the large
number that reflect a mindset that is a recipe for failure in the emerging
online market. These include “brochure-ware” sites that do little more than
just post basic information.
The results are the first in a new quarterly research survey, “Lafferty
Int