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Barclays Advertising Standards Authority

Digital banking just got safer with British Standards Institution kitemark for apps launch

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By John McCarthy, Opinion Editor

August 27, 2014 | 3 min read

The British Standards Institution (BSI) has released a new kitemark to help mobile users identify apps which have guaranteed the quality of digital security in the industry, to protect digital transactions from malware and cyber theft.

Barclay's Pingit is one of the first apps to achieve the kitemark

Mobile banking services, including Barclay’s Pingit payment app, were independently assessed and rewarded the BSI kitemark, to ensure a high standard of digital safety for users.

The kitemark, currently being trialed in the banking sector, will see wider use in other industries reliant upon online consumer transactions.

Each service with the standard will be monitored and audited by the BSI to ensure that their digital transactions remain secure, and that the security is regularly upgraded to protect against newly emerging cyber threats.

Maureen Sumner Smith, UK managing director at BSI, said: “More and more of us are now sharing confidential information through online shopping, mobile banking, booking flights, gaming, university applications or interacting with local government. These behavioural changes from the physical to the digital demand the need for even more rigorous security measures.

“Many organizations have good information security processes already established, but by having their systems independently tested on a regular basis as part of the BSI Kitemark process, they can clearly demonstrate to customers their commitment to safeguarding information.”

Sumner Smith added: “The BSI name and BSI Kitemark is recognized as a symbol of trust and we have a strong track record in promoting excellence when it comes to cyber and information security.”

Alex Grant, managing director of Fraud Prevention at Barclays, said: “Millions of our customers are using mobile and online banking on a daily basis and the Kitemark adds reassurance that the platform they are using meet the stringent security requirements.

“Barclays recognise the need to grow consumer trust in using digital platforms and the BSI Kitemark is a widely trusted mark to help this. We’re proud to be the first business to gain the certification for its mobile banking apps to start with.”

The BSI Kitemark website claims: “Two thirds of all UK consumers associate [the Kitemark] with quality, assurance, reliability and trust and 93 per cent of adults believe BSI Kitemark products are safer.

This comes after Barclays won a Grand Prix at the Marketing on Mobile Awards earlier this year for its Pingit app.

Barclays Advertising Standards Authority

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