RBS and NatWest Make It Pay

Updated iPhone app gives customers external payments with a native experience

20 January 2012 | Mobile & SMS | Joshua Grant

Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest updated their much loved iPhone app just before Christmas, allowing customers to make payments to external payees. With Lloyds TSB and Santander recently launching mobile apps and Barclays’ apps '‘on the way’' the UK Mobile Banking market is certainly taking off.

Up to now RBS / NatWest customers could only make transfers between their own accounts, but this new functionality adds a completely new dimension to the app.

The updated app combines a sleek design with a straightforward user experience. In order to use the app customers must register with the bank on their mobile and then create a passcode. Customers are only able to make payments to payees who they have already paid within Internet Banking. This security model means that all the hassle the user faces takes place before they try and make the payment.

As a consequence customers can make payments in under 20 seconds – almost quicker than getting a note from a wallet!