I noticed there is a banking app for postfinance.

I am slightly wary of using this - does anyone use banking apps or use the PF app?

I'm particularly surprised that there is no link to the app from the PF website so there's no way to verify the app on the marketplace is by postfinance and not some rogue operator trying to get your bank details.

I was reading about this a couple of weeks ago. I don't have a post account but I hope my bank will bring out a similar app. Your able to transfer money to other bank accounts but whats very interesting is that your also able to scan the pay slip with the phone and pay it through the app which saves the annoying tipping in of numbers and adresses like on the computer

Here's the link on the post website

There's no link to the app that i can see...

I got the app for Android from the PF site but can't remember where I found it, and I'm too tired at the moment to go through the whole log-in rigmarole! I think there was some info when I logged in mentioning the new apps. It only works on phones with a Swiss SIM card and you get sent a text to the number you register to establish that the phone is connected to that particular account. I think you only do this once and use the yellow thingy to verify your identity. I haven't used it yet as I am currently in the UK and have my UK SIM in my phone.

True. Sorry I meant that was the link to prove there is an official app out there. I looked on the Android market and there is only one Postfinance app available so theres not much chance of downloading a fraudulant copy

It is indeed very poorly organized. Here is where they link to the Android market...

thanks. as you can imagine, i'm a bit wary of using a banking app without some assurance that it is legit!

For both iPhone and Android.

URL in DE

Perhaps they were first, but they're not the only. I just paid a bill (coincidentally, I was paying the Post) from my UBS account using the Android app. It's similar to what's described here for postfinance.

As far as I can make out the app was launched only about a week ago.

I would be EXTREMELY wary of using any App (Android/iPhone) that is tied to any financial information. If you lose your phone, blocking your SIM card does not prevent someone from going into your phone via PC (or removing the SD card) and obtaining some very valuable information!!!

Personally, email is the most personal thing I have on my phone, and I can wipe my phone remotely if I lose it or it gets stolen.

/2cents

If you have a password on your phone, then they shouldn't be able to access any information on your phone via a PC. If they can, then your phone is inproperly secured.

All smartphones are improperly secured.

Really? When my phone is locked I cannot get a computer to recognise it. It's like the USB port is completely dead until you unlock it. Seems pretty secure to me.

Just because you can't do it doesn't mean it can't be done. No phone is secure, smart or otherwise.

Thanks, but no thanks. I do not want a smartphone app to be able to pay bills.

I am very happy with the UBS app which allows to scan (but not pay!) payment slips, check account balances and see some very basic information about the last few transactions. It does not display any names and only the last three positions of the account numbers. IMHO they got the balance between convenience and security just right. But allowing payments from a mobile app is way too risky IMHO.

Just a quick counter point to Mark. I guess the Postfinance smart phone app is as secure as logging in from your computer. It still needs you to use your card to generate a challenge token and enter it in to login. So I think PostFinance have really nailed it!

In addition, the Fast Service part of the App, where you only need a password, only allows you to make transfers of 250.- per month and does not grant access to the Finance and Accounts section of the App.

250 per month would be ok with me. however, i was worried when i read this on the official website:

100 CHF per day would be 3000 a month. not sure per day and recipient means, but if it is 3000 per month for each different recipient then it would effectively be unlimited amounts that can be transferred out of your account.

But:
Which is 250.- AFAIK