We limited our review to websites that didn’t require your online banking logins and passwords. If you give out these details, you break the terms of your contract with your bank and will have no comeback if you’re later a victim of online banking fraud.
There are plenty of innocent-looking online budgeting websites that require you to give login details. Two popular websites in the US – www.mint.com and www.justthrive.com – look great, are free, and give you online access to accounts at several New Zealand banks. For example, justthrive.com lists ANZ, ASB and Westpac as banks whose accounts they can load and analyse for you.
When we spoke to these banks they confirmed what we expected – they have no association with these websites and advise their customers to avoid using them.
Report by Susan Guthrie.
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