Segment: Banking
Publication date: Friday, January 29, 2010
# Pages: (99 pages)

Abstract | Table of Contents

This month we once again present our annual Monitor Awards reports, which recognize the best online features and capabilities in the annuity, banking, brokerage, credit card and mutual fund areas. Each Awards report for our individual Monitor services – Annuity Monitor, Bank Monitor, Credit Card Monitor, e-Monitor, Mutual Fund Monitor and Mutual Fund Monitor–Advisor – focuses on the best online tools and services in several key areas, ranging from homepages and transactional capabilities, to online account opening, to educational and planning resources.

The Monitor Awards can serve as a blueprint for firms looking to improve their websites. Each report provides in-depth reviews of leading features, along with a plethora of accompanying screenshots. We also analyze the major events that impacted the retail financial services industry in the past 12 months.

For site features that we consider truly outstanding, we award Corporate Insight Monitors – Gold, Silver and Bronze – based on the overall quality as determined by our custom category criteria. The categories covered in each Monitor are as follows:

• Annuity Monitor – Public Homepage & Navigation, Public Education Resources, Public Product Information Offerings, Client Transaction Capabilities, Client Account Information, Client Statements, Advisor Sales Tools, Advisor Sales Resources, Advisor Literature Order Systems
• Bank Monitor – Account Selection Tools, Account Information, Bill Payment Capabilities, Transfer Capabilities, Self-Service Options, Alert Services, Private Site Help, Online Applications
• Credit Card Monitor – Card Product Comparison Tools, Transaction Search Tools, Statement Centers, Online Card Payment, Balance Transfer Centers, Alerts, Private Site Help, Initiating Disputes/Inquiries
• e-Monitor – Product/Service Range, Quotes, Charts, Trading Tickets, Account Information, News & Research, Online Documentation, Education Centers, Online Help, Alerts
• Mutual Fund Monitor – Public Homepage, Education Resources, Fund Screeners, Transactions, Navigation, Online Help, Online Security, Retirement Resources
• Mutual Fund Monitor-Advisor – Advisor Homepage, Navigation, Tools & Calculators, Literature Order Systems, Sales Ideas, Practice Management Resources, Rich Media Commentary

Subjects

Website Reviews/Company Reviews

Read Full Report (Monitor Subscription Required)