Bank integration

[House]

As far as Apps go, I really can't say.

What I have done, was to write a PHP script that would log into my FNB account and conduct a detailed bank statement check each day.

The results are stored back into my own Mysql database.

I use it to view payments that are made into my account and activate membership accounts on my business.

 

[Lounger]

From the android market discription

FNB Banking App
FNB is proud to bring you FNB App, South Africa’s first Smartphone and Tablet Banking Application.

The FNB App is simple to use and provides a convenient, easy and secure way to do your banking anytime and anywhere.

With the FNB App you can:

- Access your banking accounts (view account balances; detailed transaction history)
- Make Once off payments and payments to your recipients
- Add recipients for payments
- Update, view and delete recipient details
- Transfer funds between your accounts
- Buy prepaid products (Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, 8.ta and Virgin Mobile)
- Top up your FNB Connect Talk and Surf prepaid accounts and purchase FNB Connect Surf ADSL Bundles
- Other value added services, such as:
- Send and receive messages (powered by FNB Connect), message other FNB Connect users for FREE!
- Use Location Based Services to find FNB ATMs or Branches
- Make and receive calls (powered by FNB Connect), including FREE calls to FNB Call Centre’s
- View Forex Rates
- Apply for new FNB accounts

Anyone can download the FNB App, but you need to be an FNB customer registered for FNB Online Banking to use the transactional services.

If you are not an FNB customer, you can conveniently Switch to FNB from the App. Simply supply your details and an agent will get back to you.

If you are not registered for FNB Online Banking, visit www.fnb.co.za or call us at 087 575 0362.

You can do all that from a web page. A widget is just an app that uses web technology.

 

[Sherbang]

You can do all that from a web page. A widget is just an app that uses web technology.

It's an app Lounger. Not sure where you get your definition of widget from (unless it has a specific meaning in Android) but as far as I know a widget only sits on your desktop and displays information, or has very limited functionality - like a toggle switch to mute the sound on and off. It accesses the internet to provide you with information (not necessarily using web technology) - for example, a weather widget sits on your screen and displays the temperature and forecast for your area (which it might get from Weather.com).

Once it has complex interactive functionality it is an app.

Anyway, the definition of app vs widget is not clearly defined and, as you say a widget is an app so either way the FNB app is an app!

 

[Nefertiti]

It's an app Lounger. Not sure where you get your definition of widget from (unless it has a specific meaning in Android) but as far as I know a widget only sits on your desktop and displays information, or has very limited functionality - like a toggle switch to mute the sound on and off. It accesses the internet to provide you with information (not necessarily using web technology) - for example, a weather widget sits on your screen and displays the temperature and forecast for your area (which it might get from Weather.com).

Once it has complex interactive functionality it is an app.

Anyway, the definition of app vs widget is not clearly defined and, as you say a widget is an app so either way the FNB app is an app!

that is how I understand it as well. Maybe Lounger can clarify?

 

[Lounger]

It's an app Lounger. Not sure where you get your definition of widget from (unless it has a specific meaning in Android) but as far as I know a widget only sits on your desktop and displays information, or has very limited functionality - like a toggle switch to mute the sound on and off. It accesses the internet to provide you with information (not necessarily using web technology) - for example, a weather widget sits on your screen and displays the temperature and forecast for your area (which it might get from Weather.com).

Once it has complex interactive functionality it is an app.

Anyway, the definition of app vs widget is not clearly defined and, as you say a widget is an app so either way the FNB app is an app!

Ok, so we agree that a widget is a type of app that accesses the web and not much else. I.e. it's a simple browser for one website.

 

[Sherbang]

Ok, so we agree that a widget is a type of app that accesses the web and not much else. I.e. it's a simple browser for one website.

It could be, but not necessarily.
The example I gave above of a toggle switch that sits on your desktop and is used to mute the sound on and off (or whatever) would also be considered a widget, in my view, even though it doesn't access the web at all. Likewise a graphic on the desktop which shows how much battery you have left, or something on the desktop which shows what song is currently playing in the background, or a nice looking clock on the desktop, none of which use the internet.

To me a widget is a program that
a) runs continuously, so doesn't need to be 'started up'
b) it sits on your desktop and displays some form of information (which may be from the internet or not)
c) it may or may not have some very limited functionality, like a toggle switch or button to open a proper app (for example clicking on a widget showing what song is playing would open the media player)

An app that accesses the web and not much else may or may not be a widget. If it just sits on your desktop and displays a webpage then it's a widget. If it offers browser like functionality it's an app.

Either way, the FNB app is an app as, although it replicates the functionality of the website, it has a proper user interface (on the iphone anyway), rather than just displaying the website.

 

[MongooseMan]

It could be, but not necessarily.
The example I gave above of a toggle switch that sits on your desktop and is used to mute the sound on and off (or whatever) would also be considered a widget, in my view, even though it doesn't access the web at all. Likewise a graphic on the desktop which shows how much battery you have left, or something on the desktop which shows what song is currently playing in the background, or a nice looking clock on the desktop, none of which use the internet.

To me a widget is a program that
a) runs continuously, so doesn't need to be 'started up'
b) it sits on your desktop and displays some form of information (which may be from the internet or not)
c) it may or may not have some very limited functionality, like a toggle switch or button to open a proper app (for example clicking on a widget showing what song is playing would open the media player)

An app that accesses the web and not much else may or may not be a widget. If it just sits on your desktop and displays a webpage then it's a widget. If it offers browser like functionality it's an app.

Either way, the FNB app is an app as, although it replicates the functionality of the website, it has a proper user interface (on the iphone anyway), rather than just displaying the website.

+1

 

[blender]

You might want to check out these guys. They are local and from the looks of it are trying to do what mint.com does, except without the deep bank integration because of the lack of API's.

http://www.6cents.co

 

[Thor]

slight necro.

Does FNB offer an API where I can get notifications if someone pays money into the account?/

Currently I have a modem that waits for the SMS and then the system applies a payment if the sms comes in. Not very secure in my opinion I do double check it with the emails, but I'd like to automate this.

What I'd like is an API to our account read access would be fine I just want to built a transactional DB on my end and apply payments if it gets updated based on the API's info.

 

[Necropolis]

I'd imagine that contacting FNB would be your best course of action.

 

[Nod]

In Germany you have "FinTS" (Financial Transaction Services)
It is a shame that the SA banks are not also making use of a common API witch would allow client applications to be developed.
GnuCash supports the FinTS API, so you are able to pull in your banking records straight from the bank, make payments, etc.

There is 22seven.com website from Old Mutual that are able to connect to all banks and retrieve transaction histories, etc. Not sure how they do this, but I suspect that they basically scrape the normal internet bank websites.

 

[Spacerat]

Read this. Christo Davel goes way back.... Does your app idea attempt to do what 22seven does?

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/art...-davel-in-the-banks-firing-line/#.WKqxffIWjdM

Also, I knwo that Absa has some patents around processing info on your statement...

 

[MagicDude4Eva]

slight necro.

Does FNB offer an API where I can get notifications if someone pays money into the account?/

Currently I have a modem that waits for the SMS and then the system applies a payment if the sms comes in. Not very secure in my opinion I do double check it with the emails, but I'd like to automate this.

What I'd like is an API to our account read access would be fine I just want to built a transactional DB on my end and apply payments if it gets updated based on the API's info.

It's not an API per se, but they have what is called host-2-host integration where you can get statement drops onto your SFTP server (or pull them from theirs). They will provide both provisional and confirmed statements. Just remember, that in SA we still work on the concept of that a transaction is provisional until confirmed (often as part of a batch job). Also remember that some transactions can be reversed/cancelled and some transactions can be cheque deposits "masked" as cash-deposits.

TL;DR: There is no real-time API (except for big volumes). To get statement drops (you can poll as many times) you need a business account. I would not statement-scrape - it is completely unreliable.

 

[Thor]

I'd imagine that contacting FNB would be your best course of action.

Had to explain to them what an API is and why I need it. Hence my post here instead.

 

[Thor]

It's not an API per se, but they have what is called host-2-host integration where you can get statement drops onto your SFTP server (or pull them from theirs). They will provide both provisional and confirmed statements. Just remember, that in SA we still work on the concept of that a transaction is provisional until confirmed (often as part of a batch job). Also remember that some transactions can be reversed/cancelled and some transactions can be cheque deposits "masked" as cash-deposits.

TL;DR: There is no real-time API (except for big volumes). To get statement drops (you can poll as many times) you need a business account. I would not statement-scrape - it is completely unreliable.

Thanks for this @MagicDude4Eva we do have a business account both FNB and RMB, but all business payments for this division is done through out FNB account.

I will google a bit/call them and hear if they have some documentation for me on this.

 

[MagicDude4Eva]

Thanks for this @MagicDude4Eva we do have a business account both FNB and RMB, but all business payments for this division is done through out FNB account.

I will google a bit/call them and hear if they have some documentation for me on this.

Best option is to speak to your business banker. Tell them that you want to have provisional statements pulled from their SFTP server in Stmnt-3 or OFC or OFX format (they also support CSV and a number of fixed-length formats). Also ask them for a EOD (end-of-day) file so that you can recon, as transactions will go missing/reversed. They should also provide you with a finalised transaction file (that will typically arrive the next day for the previous day).

Good luck with this - it is a true pain and it is painstaking to work with banks. So glad I left the financial sectors when I did - not sure via bank IT staff produce such horrible solutions - it is really just credits, debits and interest and yet, they can not produce a XML file where an amount does not have leading spaces....

 

[SBSP]

Most banks in SA do have integration called MT940 and Statement 3 Interfaces. But these arent APIs as such.
Its merely used to integrate your ERP with your bank account to extract and import bank statements with your company Cashbook.