Case Analysis of Bank of America: Mobile Banking
Marcus J. Durr
Professor Trittipo
AMBA 650 Section 9047
January 31, 2012
Abstract
During the tough time for the banking industry when many banks have gone into bankruptcy or have began add numerous fees to their service in order to stay afloat; Bank of American (BoA) has also experienced some of the effects of the financial crisis. In an effort to weather the storm BoA began to incorporate mobile banking. While its competitors were implementing their own mobile banking through mobile apps, mobile web, and short message system (SMS), BoA focused on the mobile app and mobile web only. This case analysis takes a look at some of the major strategic issues and problems, such as BoA
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Identification of the strategic issues and problems
With all the government imposed laws and guidelines, and with other major banks disappearing, Bank of America has the issue of trying to figure out what the future holds for the company and their growth as well as the issue of deciding on the best use of their mobile banking app for their customers. While other banks decided on using multiple setups for their mobile banking, Bank of America had to decide what was best for the company to keep costs low and what would encourage the customer to use this new form of technology.
Analysis and evaluation
The banking industry was caught in a bad spot due to bad mortgages, so the mobile banking market was a way that banks can gain the loyalty from current customers but also, gain new consumers. This was very important for Bank of America (BoA), since all the other major banks were doing the same thing, BoA had to focus on the mobile market and do something to make their product stand out.
One thing that BoA had to keep in mind is their internal environment or their strengths and weaknesses. Due to BoA being at the industry forefront they had the luxury of being the leader in many of the top cities and having their market cover majority of the U.S. population (Gupta, S., and Herman, k. 2010, p. 2). This individual fact is a clear strength for BoA
The mortgage crisis of 2009 led to a deep recession and spilled over into a financial crisis that affected the retail banking business. Banks started waving fees and offering additional benefits in order to capture and retain customers. Mobile banking was introduced in the US in 2007 which added costs to each transaction. However, these costs were lower than call centers and interactive voice response costs. Bank of America had three options: mobile messaging (mobile stream modification without any software installation), mobile Internet (wireless application protocol), and mobile applications. Mobile applications in particular were more sophisticated and costly. Smartphone use was estimated to grow to 46% by 2014.
Most new entrants are technology firms of all sizes that are looking revolutionize the banking industry as they revolutionized almost all major industries in the past 15 years. These firms apply concepts such as artificial intelligence and 24/7 connectivity to create innovative ways of performing tailored banking operations at lower cost and with greater convenience for the consumer. Retail banks however have an opportunity to maintain relevancy over the upcoming decade, but in order to do so they must harness technology either through in house innovation or partnerships to accentuate they’re current competitive advantages such as personalized
Chase has more than 5,500 branches and 18,000 ATMs and holds approximately over $2.6 trillion in assets (Get More from Your Banking Relationship, 2014, p.2). JP Morgan Chase is often called the leader of the pack among the “Big Four” banks (King 2015). In recent years the bank has embarked on a major expenditure program to keep up to date with technological advances and consumer change of taste. The trend is digitalization of the banking experience, which enables customers to bank from their smartphone and/or computer. Chase has invested heavily on its smartphone application and online banking platform. In which chase has become the #1 most visited banking portal in the U.S and #1 Mobile banking functionality for 3 consecutive years (Smith 2015). In addition, Chase has expanded the capabilities of its ATM stock. On this new platform, wires can be sent via personal computer, funds
12. Banks like USAA use provide web-based and mobile computing options for their customers. Web-based computing allows users to complete longer more detailed processes like applying for a credit card or a home loan. Mobile computing, however, allows users to connect with companies, mostly in a limited fashion, while on the go. USAA, for example, allows customers to transfer money, review their products through their mobile
The issue that Relay FCU faces can be addressed with an aggressive marketing strategy centered around attracting the younger population. With only one physical location and no online banking service, a heavily tech-oriented youth population may look to other credit unions or banks instead of opening an account with Relay. To address this, Relay must first seek to implement a web-based banking system complete with an app for mobile phone banking as well. According to Bob Hedges, managing director in AlixPartners’ Financial Services Practice, “Consumers are demanding, expecting, and shopping for mobile capabilities. Banks who fail to innovate run the risk of losing customers and face real challenges in attracting new customers” (Marous, 2014). Once the mobile banking service is implemented, Relay must develop a marketing plan targeted to consumers in the prime borrowing age range of 25-44. This marketing plan must include heavy advertising and a social
Bank of America, on the other hand, has spent its time during the post great recession managing its Merrill Lynch purchase. With such a large wealth management force often referred to as the ‘thundering herd’, the Merrill acquisition allows the bank to explore untapped opportunities, as well as making the bank the biggest in the nation bypassing “JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N) and Citigroup Inc (C.N) in size, giving it about $2.7 trillion of assets” (Stempel, 2009). Similar to Morgan Stanley’s plans for its wealth management arm, Bank of America intends on trading the high volatility of traditional investment banking with the stability of the more retail investor focused wealth management. The strategy and benefits are evident, as various Wall Street firms try and reign in more riskier lines of business with more stable ways of income. Additionally, as explained by Halah Touryalai (2012), the advantage of cross selling traditional banking and mortgage products with wealth management clients “can be a very profitable.” The synergies created between both firms could lead to favorable results “as both sides look to tap into one another’s existing client base… sell more products to existing customers. The more products each one of your customers buys from the bank, the more profitable they become for the bank–not to mention it makes it more difficult for a customer to leave” (para. 5). To emphasize, just the size and scope of Bank of America could lead to more attractive
According to the most recent Federal Reserve study; most of us haven’t set foot in a banking hall in ages. It is a lost battle to banks that opt to use traditional methods to conduct their banking transactions (Gup 2003). By December of last year, close to half of all smartphone users in the United States had transacted some or all of their banking on their phones and iPhones. In the United Kingdom alone, rates of mobile banking transactions doubled over the course of a single year (Scn Education 2001). A banking business that invests in this type of technology gets assured of increasing their customer base.
Bank of America competitive advantage is the share of domestic deposits. They are a firm that has unique set of products and services that may dominate its markets. This type of competitive advantage position can be established even in markets where there is significant technology markets. In my opinion I think Bank of America can survive in both slow and fast cycle markets. Bank of America in slow cycle markets utilizes strategic developments to service the restricted markets to enter into new markets. An example of this is when Bank of America opened their door to social network. Developing a site applicable for small business proprietors to become an affiliate of small business online community, wherein any business can share their remarkable stories to become more interactive. With this strategy development Bank of America analyzed and concluded that the web site will give the firm the opportunity to reach a wider audience. The internet is one of the most powerful tools to make people aware. Bank of America is cooperating with the latest trends to keep providing the best services that will be long term. This influence the long term success of Bank of America in a slow cycle market which maintains stability. (Bank of America,
In this paper, I will identify security threats that Bank of America faces today. In addition, I will describe the techniques and processes used to identify the vulnerabilities and threats, describe risks to the information and related vulnerabilities within Bank of America when utilizing components of the web. Discussions on BoA safeguard against legal issues will be addressed followed by the types of social data that potentially cause problems for this bank institute. In conclusion, I will explain the legal, ethical, and regulatory requirements Bank of America utilize for the protection of the organization.
Bank of America Corporation (BOFA), comprised of Bank of America and Merrill Lynch, is a multinational company that provides financial services to “people, companies, and institutional investors.” (Bank of America's Strategy of Responsible Growth, 2017) In the U.S. BOFA serves all three customer groups, and outside the U.S. BOFA “serves larger companies and institutional investors. This business model simplifies our operations and reduces our risk profile.” (Bank of America's Strategy of Responsible Growth, 2017) Within the three pillar strategy points, BOFA seeks to aid people, companies, and institutions with their financial needs to obtain the largest customer exposure. Personal banking and wealth-management services assist the individual
Bank of America is an American global banking corporation which just provides banking and financial services to individuals and customers. The bank has covers each area, such as serving individuals, providing financial management products and services. Also it covers a larger area and operates in a lot of banking platforms. A change of retailing banking services is provided by the bank to its customers and individuals, (Jorion, 2009). Some of the lending practices at the Bank of America are going through the account, providing credit card facilities, savings account service. Going through the account allows for the deposits of various funds through phones and other technology and monthly waivers for the students who are able and many others suitable (Elsilä, 2015). Providing credit card facilities allow of the cash back rewards and low interests rewards, traveling and many other options to create rewards. It provides individuals enough convenience. Saving account services is basically delivers easy and instant opening of accounts and managing the accounts through many online banks processes. Still, there are many other services as well which includes home loans, retirement specific account and many more. These services aim to provide the best user experience that the customers will gain from the Bank of America. (Bankofamerica.com, 2016)
. Mobile services not only offer a new, convenient channel for existing customers of banks, the technology will also provide access to 3 Bnstrong global unbanked population
The Harvard Business School case study Mobile Banking for the Unbanked explores two very different examples of mobile financial service models:
Technological advancement has had a gigantic effect in the banking industry. Over the past few decades, the financial services industry has changed considerably with banking transforming from the pen and paper method to the computers and internet method. The pen and paper method took weeks or even months for the transaction to be eventually completed, and then the dramatic introduction of the computer and internet method which changed that time frame to only a matter of seconds to be completed, which reduced the amount of time and labor needed to complete a transaction significantly. Banking is considered one of the most important economic sectors with it being severely influential and responsive to any little change, whether it is domestic or international. Some extreme changes that were brought about by the development of this new technology turned into a globalized nature for the financial services industry. One stroke of a key on a computer could and would change a person 's life extensively or even have a global impact. The new technologies that were created and introduced changed how the consumers managed their money from that time on. Technology has helped to protect peoples’ hard earned money and make it much more impossible for people to be able to write out bad checks or even holding up a bank. The advancement in technology however, also came with some security risks as most things do, that could affect the money that people trusted with the bank and
Mobile banking is well utilized in countries of Europe and even Japan, yet it is slow to catch up in America. A study by Forrester Research found that only 10% of Americans like the idea of m banking while 35% already bank online