To close my bank account over this?

[tenlittlecygnets]

Am with Santander. They want all customers to download a banking app and use that in future. Their app is not compatible with a desktop pc.

I don’t want to access my bank accounts by phone.my phone is ancient and I have a pc.

Can anyone recommend a bank? I need to access my accounts via computer, not app.

Honestly.

First direct is the one to go with. 100%. App used for security, but website excellent.

I find their new website awful. I think I am gong to switch to Nationwide because it's so bad I find it very difficult to use. Used to be able to see everying clearly at a glance. Now, all debits credits and balances are in a single column, instead of 3 separate ones (presumably so it's easier on a smartphone). It's an utter nightmare looking through it. They have attempted some differentiation by putting them in different fonts, but it just looks like a jumbled mess. I have been with them almost since they started and have recommended them to loads of people before, but now I would say avoid.

The one I use is called BlueStacks, I just open it up and can download and use any android app. I mainly use it with HMRC and other government websites that require a similar authentication.

That is interesting. I've never heard of this before. I suspect/hope that the reason this works is because HMRC aren't using mobile security properly, and that this won't work for a banking app that requires you to have physical possession of a phone.

I have installed Lineagos (hacker version of Android) on a couple of old devices, and they can't be used for certain apps (e.g. banking) because the app can see it's not a trusted version of Android.

The gadget doesn't need charging either!

I respectfully disagree . I have a card reader from Barclays. In practice it means that I rarely log in because it's too much faff. And when I finally got round to digging it out of the bottom of the drawer recently the batteries had run out. Barclays will send a new one but it will take 5 days and the batteries are not generally available in shops. Plus I don't want to carry another device around with me so no use if I wanted to check balance when I'm out anyway.

I don't recommend Barclays

I do recommend Halifax... my other account is with them and they have had a two stage identification process for years (password then letters from memorable word). They send a text to authenticate some transactions (eg setting up new payee) which is ok with me. I'd rather use my phone than have to locate another device. They will also call a home number if you prefer and they have allowed me to change my mobile number to a foreign one (which Barclays won't).

My Mum is elderly and rural and has almost no mobile signal at home so the text authentication wouldn't work for her.

I have a card reader from Barclays

I have had one of these for years. Never used it though. I log on most days through the website without it.

I'm 53, and I can't be that unusual in not using a mobile that often

well more than 90% of adults aged under 55 in the uk have a smartphone and the other 10% would include people who cannot afford them and those incapable of using them by reason of disability so for an able bodied middle class woman of your age not to have a smartphone is indeed unusual.

If online banking isn't secure without an app, then I guess people will have a choice to acquire a phone that can use the app, or not use online banking.
Don't see how people can expect banks to stick with outdated, insecure technology that puts everyone at risk of theft, just because they can't be bothered to charge their phone or know where it is etc. Especially as it is going to be law.
Did you all refuse to carry on driving a car once driving licences became compulsory as well?

So when you lose your phone you're without banking services. Even if you lose a laptop, you'll normally be able to access online services elsewhere.

I think banks will struggle if they tie access to their services to a single piece of hardware.

@needsomesleepy how do you log on to Barclays without the card reader? The helpline person told me it wasn't possible! I don't have the app and would need the card reader to set it up. I can log into Barclaycard without the reader but not my bank account.

This is the page when I go to log in.

It's infuriating. I have almost no mobile reception at home, so sending authentication codes via text is incredibly unreliable. I can easily foresee the time when I won't be able to access online banking at all.

Soulrunner I like being unusual, and I like not being connected all the time. I have a couple of dumb phones, one for Belgium and one for UK, both text and calls only, which is all I need. Why have something that adds the square root of sod all to my existence?

Mountaindweller My card reader said the batteries were low, so ING sent a new one. I used Dh's in the interim.

HiJuice Lloyds have a unique customer number, a password, then random letters/numbers from your memorable information. That's three layers of it being the customer surely? If online banking is insecure without an app, then they have problems as I have used online banking with Lloyds for over a decade now.

Having a driving licence was compulsory when I passed my test in 88 in the UK. In Belgium you had to pass a written test and be over 18 until 1977. It was only then that they had to a test in a car as well. Loads of Belgians have never taken a driving test, which explains why they drive like fucking lunatics here.

Bridget We have little signal in our house in UK as well. I don't want to have to go the attic and hang out of the dormer window every time I want to buy something.

Apps are HUGELY more secure than desktop applications and web sites. If you get a virus on your desktop computer it can get information from files, log-ins etc because a desktop is set up to share information. You can access files in multiple ways ie - "all the doors in the house are open".

With an app - each app is like a separate flat in a block, with locked doors. If one flat gets burgled, has poor security then the others will be ok if they have better security, even if they are next to each other. Apps are locked down and secure, so sending log in details to an app is much more secure than text, email etc.

From the banks POV it's a no brainier - there is a push to make banks responsible for repaying money that has been scammed, but how is that fair if people are refusing to use secure ways of logging in?

I'm not a banker - but I'm a retired computer scientist who knows a bit about cyber security.

oh dear
is this really happening? I haven't heard anything from them.

I have an old desktop computer and I don't do any banking from my mobile phone because I like my phone to just be a phone, so this will be a pain.

@Trillis not sure if this is allowed, but I could recommend you to Nationwide and you would get £100 referral.

I have an old desktop computer and I don't do any banking from my mobile phone because I like my phone to just be a phone, so this will be a pain.

They’re not asking the OP to stop using a desktop. They’re asking her to use a two factor authentication method.

Statistically speaking - you are more likely to get divorced than switch bank accounts

i do my online banking via their website on my PC.
Don't need an app.

soul oh, thanks. that's not how I interpreted this at all! I thought it was a bit odd.

I've banked with Santander for a few years. What has annoyed me up to now is that they send an OTP via SMS. As I lived abroad, sometimes these SMS messages never arrived. This sounds even worse, as you need to not only have a valid phone number, you need internet access/smart phone to get through security!
It's very annoying, but it seems that other banks are doing the same. Two other bank accounts I hold require you to have a phone, and others are changing over. It seems inevitable...

PS But I have not heard from them about a change of authentication system. Not yet...

@Lamaha technology is for UK users. If you choose to live abroad & continue to bank in UK, you have to work around that

I don't know any sms system that enables texts to overseas numbers ...

Having had a huge fraudulent transaction attempted on my card this week which Santander stopped I'm quite happy to do whatever I need to keep my cash safe. I'm one of the most cautious, careful risk averse people I know yet I've no idea how these feckers got my card details. These criminals are clever devils so banks have to stay ahead. As someone upthread said if they are expected to foot the bill when they are successful it's only fair we do our bit too.

@ny20005 I don't know any sms system that enables texts to overseas numbers
I was in a EU country and was able to receive texts and calls from the UK without a problem otherwise. As it was, I had to buy a payg sim card and cheap phone just for Santander security.
Besides: they have to expect people will travel, even if they don't live abroad. It would have been impossible to receive OTPs in, for instance, India.
Mind you, I didn't need it often. just when setting up a new payee or otherwise making a change to the account. My already registered payees can be paid without OTP, through the website.

I still loathe any system that operates through a phone. I prefer a card reader, or, as I have had with a couple of banks, a list of numbers that you keep separate and when you make a transaction they ask for the number. Terribly old fashioned and probably not secure, I know!

My bank has started with an added layer of security too on debit and credit card transactions online. If you want to move money or pay money over a certain amount, they will call you on a number you've previously given them (mobile or landline) with a code to input into the website.

Since Google, Facebook and Apple all allow for people to generate codes for use when mobile connectivity isn't available (you need to have the foresight to generate them in advance, naturally) then it's a pisspoor bank that doesn't allow the same.

Alternatively (or additionally !), rather than relying on any connectivity, they could use something like Google Authenticator to provide the 2FA ?

There is of course the ever-ignored question about accessibility for the less able - either deaf or visually impaired ...

I'm not really one to have any sympathy for banks ... but sometimes it must appear like they can't win. If it's too easy, it's not secure. If it's secure then it will have to be less easy. Them's the choices.

Personally I'd much rather use SMS or a dedicated 2FA app like Google Authenticator than a crappy proprietary banking "app" ....