Aspects of Banking Sites - Case Study Example

Banking sites Introduction A website contains various kinds of web pages related to a particular topic, entity or an issue. Websites have today become a key media to organizations that allow better interaction of the company with its stakeholders through network systems such as Uniform Resource Locator (URL). Stating precisely, these websites are linked to World Wide Web, which is again based on the Domain Name System of the internet media (MacDonald, 2011). Banks have also not been away from making use of internet media through website portals. These portals have mostly been in use by banks and can create awareness among people about their works, ethics, products, facilities, rules as well as regulations. Websites have thus functioned as the way to connect with the larger mass of customers as well as other stakeholders to serve them as per customer’s requirements. Many banks in the current phenomenon has been observed to operate through its own websites, providing relevant and highly valued information about its financial and economic activities targeted to its beneficiaries such as government, auditors, researcher and the customer. Websites also help to provide banking facilities online at the customers’ convenience, such as checking accounts, transferring amounts from one account to another, gathering knowledge about loan structure offered as well as mortgaging rules and others (Brinck & Gergle, n.d.). This paper thus aims to discuss about the four banking websites such as HSBC, QNB, Al Rajihi Bank and the US Bank. This paper will elaborate the features of their websites and about the appearance of banking facilities through those. It will also emphasize authenticity of the information provided by the banks and the effectiveness of these sites to suffice their actual purposes. Company Profiles Qatar National Bank’s Qatar National Bank is the largest bank in Middle East and with the North African area. It was founded in 1964 with it’s headquarter in Doha, Qatar. It has several subsidiaries and provides financial services in other countries as well. QNB Financial Services stream also renders various facilities even including currency trading in different countries (QNB, 2015). HSBC HSBC is one of the leading banks in the world. Large size along with huge range of products has evidently helped HCBC to attain a pioneering position in the global banking sector. It was founded in 1836 and it has its head quarter in London, UK. It has several subsidiaries such as first direct, HSBC Trinkaus, HSBC Bank AS and M&S Bank by which HSBC spread their service and improve their financial growth all over the world (The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, 2015). Al Rajihi Bank Al Rajihi Bank is also a leading Islamic bank in the current global scenario. It was founded in 1957 with it’s headquarter in Saudi Arabia. The bank invests mainly for the business of Saudi Arabia and its joint stock company. Al Rajihi Bank correspondingly follows the Islamic principal in commercial institutions (Al Rajhi Bank, 2015). US Bank US Bank is a financial service company, which was founded in the US in the year 1891. It has the US Bancorp as its parent company. This bank also shares the aim to gain profit by providing best services to its customers alike its competitors. Since the economic downturn, in 2014, the US Bank has grown substantially in their loan section, which further defines its capability to accept the challenges and function for the best (US Bank, 2015). Discussion Qatar National Bank’s Website QNB’s website title, QNB Global, gives comprehensible image of the bank that explains the facilities, provided by banks. The website reflects on the bank’s subsidiary places from different countries, which the customer or other beneficiaries can access. The website can also be observed as easy to be navigated quickly. The website has its home page with many hyperlinks but in short sizes that makes it more convenient to operate. There was no distraction identified in that website, as customers have to select the options as per their requirements, but it lacked illustrations that would have the facilitated customers to easily collect the information they needed. The website layout is attractive and consistently shows the services offered by the bank. Although the website gives data in brief, it does not provide a summary with an introduction. Multiple links were found associated with this website wherein its users shall have to choose facilities, as per their requirements to find the actual information. ONB’ website does not contain any background color and hence, create no haziness in accessing information from this website (QNB, 2015). The sub topics linked to this website are designed effectively, wherein the reason behind creating sub topics is clear to all. The information provided by the website is reliable and accurate, as these are published by the bank. People thus fail to change the facts delivered by the websites as QNB has a copyright of this site. The objective of this website is also aimed to help people as per their requirements. The website also makes available many links and sub links so that it can help people to find accurate solutions for their enquiry. The bank mainly presents facts by the website to obtain the opinion of its stakeholders, as there is no option for sharing viewer’s opinion. It is in this context that QNB delivers facts about the term associated with its service facilities and financial terms. The website also describes features for the options and the way these options can help them to identify a proper information (QNB, 2015). This website provides significant information through which, anyone can understand the core facts related to the bank’s performances. QNB makes available the information regarding their financial reports through which, people can analyze facts and the growth rate of the bank. This website provides necessary steps about different types of cards, products, financial packages and other offerings, which helps to understand the motive behind creating the website apparently (QNB, 2015). HSBC’s Website The website title is named after the organization, HSBC, which is quite informative that delivers information about the facilities, which bank has provided. HSBC’s layout is quite attractive as it assures the customers to choose this bank to protect their wealth. It has many links and sub links through which HSBC delivers its banking information to its beneficiaries. The facts delivered by HSBC’s website are consistent and easy to access by the people through internet. Though the website does not comprise introduction with a summary about the company, it presents various inspiring and convincing messages in short and snappy manners. HSBC also delivers information regarding their accounts and products, which help the users to identify products and information as per their requirements (The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, 2015). The information provided by HSBC on the website is written in smaller sizes, as the webpage contains many links and promotional ads but without being too difficult to be read. The website contains red and blue colors presented in a stylish way. HSBC also creates its links, which accurately defines the different kinds of facilities it has provided and other financial terms related to the banking sector. HSBC website also informs about the bank’s concern for the environment choosing to serve people through online banking. Through this website, HSBC intends to provide reliable and safe information to its beneficiaries with a redressal link where a customer can complain about their inconveniences. Observably, this website’s objective is to help the customers in their problems as well as provide it with financial reports so that customers are aware of the financial position. This website also provides significant information from which, an overview of the bank can be obtained along with a description of its ethical concerns and facilities. HSBC bank provides reliable financial information, as they publish data after the audit process. The information delivered by the HSBC website are not based on biased opinions of others, as it emphasizes governmental articles and circulations to serve people better (The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, 2015). Al Rajihi Bank Website Al Rajihi Bank created its websites with its name. The title is informative because with the short description the bank provides almost all information relevant for its stakeholders. The website does not have any distraction. As the pictures blink, it also delivers information about products. Illustrations of every point have also been quite appropriate and the website also shows information in Islamic language, which helps people to understand the information. Though the website’s layout is not very interesting, it has all options to develop an understanding about its service within its stakeholders. It is also quite easy to navigate with the information being consistent. This website elaborates the features of services provided by banks but does not present any summary related to the bank. Al Rajihi Bank thus introduces many links and sub links, which provides reliable information about the bank’s activities that also, serves with proper guidance to the customers (Al Rajhi Bank, 2015). The text of the website is written in large sizes that people can comprehend easily. The color of the website does not cause any problem to search link as per the requirement of customers. The bank also provides its own leadership opinion in this website and emphasizes to build a positive image about its culture of the bank. As it is an Islamic bank, it has a few rules, which are called “Haram”. But in this website, there is no such information provided by the bank. This website contains useful information from which, it is users can obtain knowledge about the facilities and its products. Moreover, the facts delivered by the bank can be assured as not bias, as the bank arranges information as per the consumers’ requirements and keep upgrading this website to serve better (Al Rajhi Bank, 2015). US Bank Website The title of the website is US Bank and is quite informative, as this website provides different types of facts about the organization. The website does not contain any message that can distract people from the given facts. The website’s layout is also attractive and does not contain off-putting color. The website is also easy to navigate, as the design of the website seems quite interesting. The information presented by the website is also observed as consistent and dependable, as the facts are published by bank. In this website, there is no such introduction summary about the purpose of the site but from the given facts it can be observed that its purpose is to make people aware about the products and/or services delivered by the US Bank. The website has many links and sub links, which work conveniently to provide useful information to the public. The size of the webpage is relatively large as well as the links are prominent to understand. The bank also conveys much inspirational message to connect with the larger section of people and assure quality simultaneously (US Bank, 2015). The objective of the website is to help people by delivering real facts about the bank. As the websites of other banks, this website also encloses facts, which are authentic and published after bank’s confirmation. Financial information is also published in websites after auditing, so that the public can understand the financial position of the bank and determine their approach. Hence, from the customers’ point of view, the website can prove useful to collect required information. Chances of the facts being based on any opinion is minimal, as the website only possesses links to inform its stakeholders about the services and answer the problems accordingly. Hence, the website can be considered as reliable, without being based on any biased facts (US Bank, 2015). Conclusions Online users are always conscious about the reliability of the information, as many information provided by the users are either fraudulent or stolen. From the above websites of the banks, it can therefore be observed that the way of presenting the facts is very interesting and informative. It must also be noted in this context that the websites had no language problem, as the information is written in English in a simple way and is also compatible in other local languages as in the case of Al Rajihi Bank. Observable, Al Rajihi Bank uses English language along with Islamic languages in certain points to develop an understanding among people about the services offered by the bank. After the evaluation of these four websites, I perceive that HSBC’s website is the best one in comparison to others. HSBC, through its website, provides relevant information using multiple sub-links in an explanatory way so that the users can avail highest benefits from the same. Photographs of CEO, people, facilities are also used in this website, which reduces the lack of human touch in the website design. This websites further reflects the cultures of the bank, which is trustworthy and safe. Accordingly, the graphical presentation, and the effective structure assure customers that the bank is growing well and the users of the website may appreciate its credibility and hard work effectively. HSBC’s website also provides a link for customers’ grievance redressal, where customers can register complaints to obtain a quick solution. HSBC website also highlights that the bank has concern for the environment, which enriches its stakeholder relationship prospects as a responsible corporate. References Al Rajhi Bank. (2015). Al Rajhi bank. Retrieved from http://www.alrajhibank.com.sa/en/pages/default.aspx Brinck, T. & Gergle, D. (n.d.). The design of banking websites: Lessons from iterative design. Retrieved from http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.5.7891&rep=rep1&type=pdf MacDonald, M. (2011). Creating a website: the missing manual. USA: OReilly Media, Inc. QNB. (2015). About QNB. Retrieved from http://www.qnb.com/cs/Satellite/QNBQatar/en_QA/enHome The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited. (2015). HSBC. Retrieved from https://www.hsbc.co.in/1/2/business/business-loans-and-overdrafts?inm_link=INM_HP_LHS_Busi_Loans U.S. Bank. (2015). US bank. Retrieved from https://www.usbank.com/index.html Read More