In the study, we examined in detail various aspects of Internet banking, including an assessment of the convenience and quality of the technological implementation of personal accounts, the proposed tools for solving everyday business tasks in digital channels, as well as the convenience of the interface and client scenarios of business platforms, and the platforms' ability to integrate with external systems.
Two main categories were identified as part of the 2023 study.
· "Best Internet Bank as a Technological Platform": in this category, banks were evaluated according to 100 criteria. The main focus was on the convenience of authorization and account management, security and reliability of systems. Tools for managing access rights, the quality of remote customer support, interface usability, the effectiveness of navigation and information retrieval, notification settings, and personalization options in interface settings, and tools for managing the entrepreneur's finances were also evaluated.
· "Best Marketplace of Services for Business": here, the main emphasis was on assessing the quality of implementation of various products and services available for connection in business platforms. Special attention was paid to how effectively these services help solve daily business tasks and the convenience of their use.
The 2023 study methodology was carefully developed to ensure a comprehensive and accurate analysis of Internet banks focused on medium and small businesses. The process included several key stages, from a qualitative analysis of customer needs to desk research and summarizing. Each stage was aimed at obtaining an objective assessment of Internet banks in accordance with modern requirements and market trends.
- Qualitative customer research: included 50 in-depth interviews with managers and accountants of companies from the medium and small business segment. The purpose of the interview is to identify and systematize the criteria that are important for customers in using Internet banking. The analysis of the answers helped to form an objective list of criteria that are most significant for users.
- Quantitative research: conducting an online survey among 250 business platform users. The task of the survey is to assess how important each of the identified criteria is for users, determine the quantitative weight of each criterion in the overall assessment system.
- Desk research: the stage included a detailed analysis of the implementation of each of the 100 evaluation criteria of business platforms. Experts assessed how effectively and fully each parameter is implemented in banking systems, recording data on the implementation of each criterion.
- Summing up: the final stage consisted of analyzing the data obtained and forming a rating. Banks were ranked by the sum of points scored, based on the assessment of the weight of the implemented criteria, which allowed us to form the final rating of banks in each category.
The 2023 study involved leading Russian banks that occupy leading positions in the market in the segment of servicing legal entities and individual entrepreneurs. The analysis within the framework of the study covered 12 banks:
- Ak Bars Bank
- Alfa Bank
- Bank Otkritie
- VTB
- Delobank
- Modulbank
- PSB
- Raiffeisen Bank
- SberBank
- Tinkoff Bank
- Tochka
- Rosbank
These banks were selected based on their significant influence in the market and the provision of a wide range of banking services for the small and medium-sized business sector in remote banking channels. The inclusion of these banks in the study provided a comprehensive analysis of the current state of Internet banking for entrepreneurs.
The results of the ranking of the best Internet banks for small businesses in 2023, presented by IXBT.pro, emphasize the leadership and innovative approach of leading financial institutions in the field of digital technologies and banking services. The awarding of banks in two key categories reflects their success in providing high-quality technology platforms and service ecosystems, which is an important indicator in the context of the ever-changing digital landscape of business.
In the nomination "Best Internet Bank as a Technological Platform", Bank VTB took first place, Sberbank took second place, and Delobank took third place.
In the nomination "Best Ecosystem of Services in Internet Banks for Business", Bank VTB is in first place, followed by Sberbank in second place, and Alfa-Bank closes the top three.
The results of the study reflect the leading positions of banks in the field of innovation and the provision of high-quality services for small and medium-sized businesses in the digital environment.
Our results demonstrate how banks are adapting to the changing requirements of the digital world, providing effective and convenient solutions for business.
For more information and a full report on the study, please contact vslivko@ixbt.com.