Internet Banking: Relevance in a Changing World

Surprising, but true - Internet-based activity is not the preserve of the young "digital native" generation alone. A 2008 survey says that Generation X (those born between 1965 and 1976) uses Internet banking significantly more than any other demographic segment, with two thirds of Internet users in this age group banking online.
Gen X users have also professed their preference for applications such as Facebook, to share, connect and be part of a larger community.
This is some irony in this, since online banking, as we know it today, offers minimal interactivity. Unlike in a branch, where the comfort of two way interaction facilitates the consummation of a variety of transactions, the one way street of e-banking has only managed to enable the more routine tasks, such as balance enquiry or funds transfer.
It's not hard to put two and two together. A clear opportunity exists for banks that can transform today's passive Internet banking offering into one that provides a more widespread and interactive customer experience.
It is therefore imperative that banks transform their online offering, such that it matches the new expectations of customers. Moreover, Internet banking must journey to popular online customer hangouts, rather than wait for customers.