Last May, Trusteer launched an optional added security measure for customers of ING Direct in the United States (note 1, see previous post). Although, it's not perfect, users of the Rapport service are less vulnerable to viruses and malware running on the their PCs. We gave the new service an OBR Best of the Web award last fall in our Online Banking Report on Security Innovations.

Although, ING Direct is a great reference account, being endorsed by Royal Bank of Scotland, really puts Trusteer on the map. The security solution is offered for download at both Royal Bank's RBS and NatWest sites (see screenshots below). Anyone visiting the banking sites can download the software, you don't have to be an RBS/NatWest customer. 

Trusteer also lists Huntington Bank as a customer but there is no mention of Rapport on the bank site yet. Other providers include Authentium's SafeCentral (note 2) and Check Point's ZoneAlarm (note 3). 

Bottom line: Security is an issue for many bank customers, now more so than ever. Extra security options deserve consideration to improve customer satisfaction/trust and help reduce fraud losses. 

Rapport download page at NatWest (link, 23 March 2009)

Rapport download page at RBS (link, 23 March 2009)

Notes:
1. Later ING Direct Canada and ING Direct's Sharebuilder added Rapport support.
2. Authentium demo'd SafeCentral at FinovateStartup 2008 (video here). A new version of SafeCentral is in the works. 
3. Check Point demo'd ZoneAlarm at Finovate 2008 (video here).

NatWest Bank
www.natwest.co.uk

NatWest (London, UK; US$317 billion) offers some of the best general business information you’ll find on the Web. And the navigation, layout, graphics and style are also top-notch. They should add more interactive elements, such as financial calculators and customer service request forms, but we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and expect to see them shortly.

From the start, you know NatWest is serious about business banking. Its first page gives consumer and commercial customers equal billing.

NatWest provides a wealth of resources for the small business. One area that is sure to be popular with its business clientele is The Business Start-Up Guide at www.natwest.co.uk/sbs/start_up_business/sbsplan.htm . The Guide is a downloadable software application that walks the prospective business owner through the process of setting up a business plan. At the end of the exercise an actual business plan (MS Word format) and pro forma financials (MS Excel format) are prepared. The program can be downloaded from the NatWest site by anyone, though you must identify yourself prior to the download with name, address, and telephone number.

NatWest’s online start-up guide assists
budding entrepreneurs.

Within “small business” Natwest provides several choices to further differentiate your needs.

When entering the small business area of NatWest’s Web, the business owner chooses from eight business needs/types (start-up business, growing business, small business round-up, professions, franchise, innovation & growth, business angels, agriculture) that helps them hone in on pertinent info right away.