I often look to online banking as an indicator of the public’s overall trust in the Internet.
If you someone is comfortable enough to check account balances, transfer money and do other banking chores online, they are obviously willing to share personal data in many other less critical on-network situations.
After all, what’s more important than money? ☺
A recent survey from comScore suggests that this bond of trust continues to build, despite the financial downturn.
ComScore found that in the second half of 2007, consumers pulled back from online banking, after several years of strong adoption.
But that largely reversed in 2008, with a burst of interest again in the third quarter, even as the financial markets melted down.
Not surprisingly, the fourth quarter was weak. Who by then had any money in their bank accounts any way?
The study suggests that come what may in the economy and the nation’s banking system, the steady movement of crucial communications online is an irreversible trend likely to accelerate. So is trust.
