Even for the biggest banks, a good smartphone app has become increasingly important.
Not only can apps perform many of the tasks you used to do in a branch, they can also deal with topics, such as PIN numbers, which branches never could.
Barclays is one of the UK’s biggest banks and in the sixth edition of our mobile banking review series looks at the Barclays Mobile Banking app and what it offers.
If you are a first direct, Halifax, NatWest, Santander or TSB customer – or considering becoming one – read our reviews of their banking apps.
Why Barclays?
With more branches than any other bank in the UK, Barclays is still likely to be your local bank.
Its Barclays Blue Rewards programme allows you to earn money and cashback from retailers.
You can compare Barclays' current account options to other banks on loveMONEY's comparison site
Who can get the Barclays app?
Barclays current account holders aged 16 or over with an iPhone, iPad or Android device.
The app is not available for Blackberries or the Kindle Fire.
Barclaycard customers who are not Barclays bank customers can get a separate Barclaycard app.
What you can see
The balance of your current and savings accounts with Barclays, in addition to any Barclaycards you hold.
This review will focus on the current account.
What you can do
Barclays mobile app allows current account customers to:
- View balances and transaction history;
- View and delete direct debits;
- Transfer money between first direct current and savings accounts.
When it comes to payments, users can:
- Set up, view or cancel Standing Orders;
- Set up payments to a company or person;
- Make payments to a mobile number using Pingit;
- Make international payments;
- Stop a cheque which hasn’t been cashed yet;
- Make payments using Siri (iPhones only).
The app also allows users to:
- Generate security codes for online banking;
- Freeze debit and credit cards, change withdrawal limit, view PIN and report stolen;
- View correspondence from Barclays including full statements;
- Select cashback reward offers;
- Apply for a range of Barclays products, such as insurance.
What we like
Here’s what we liked about Barclays app.
It’s simple to log in
You can use your fingerprint to log into the app if your device has that feature. Otherwise, you’ll need a five-digit code
You can freeze your card(s)
The app makes it easy to control your debit and credit cards, whether that’s reducing the cash withdrawal limit, preventing its use online or even temporarily 'freezing' the account.
Worst comes to worst, you can use the app to report your card as stolen.
Pay people using their mobile number
Barclays app uses Pingit to pay people using their mobile number, provided they’re registered for Pingit and Paym.
Cashback rewards
Barclays’ app lets your load cashback rewards onto your debit card.
When we reviewed the app, there were 10% cashback offers for JustEat, Boots and B&Q.
Unfortunately, online purchases must be completed through the app and so are far more complicated than getting cashback for in-store purchases.
View correspondence
Everything Barclays sends you can be viewed on the app and downloaded, including statements, often before you receive it in the post.
This includes correspondence from before you got the app (ours went as far back as 2009).
What we don’t like
You can’t make a payment whilst viewing your accounts
A small but irritating distinction – if you log into Barclays app, you’ll see options for ‘Accounts’ and ‘Pay and Transfer’ at the bottom of the screen.
If you select a bank account on the ‘Accounts’ page you can’t make a payment.
You can only make a payment from the ‘Pay and Transfer’ page, where you can only see your basic balance on the account you’re paying from.
You end up repeatedly switching between these pages and backtracking.
It won’t work on jailbroken devices
The new Barclays app won’t run on rooted, or jailbroken, devices.
These devices override some of the safeguards in an operating system so could leave it more vulnerable to an attack by things like malware, which means your data could be more at risk.
That said, other banks do offer apps that will run on jailbroken devices.
Screenshots
In our testing on an iPhone device, the app permitted screenshots, which flagged up some security concerns.
This problem isn’t unique to Barclays however – all iPhones and iPads allow screenshots of banking apps.
Final verdict
Barclays’ app has many useful and stress-relieving functions, particularly the ability to freeze card payments.
In comparison the app's problems are relatively minor, making it a convenient addition to your smartphone.
What other customers think
Google Play Store rating: 4.4 out of 5
Apple App Store rating: 4.8 out of 5
What do you think?
Have you got the Barclays mobile banking app? Share your likes and dislikes in the comment section below.