Online banking is restricting Linux Users!

[Rob Wehrli]

On Thu, 16 Dec 2004, Austin Godber wrote:

> different bank ... or an alltogether different company. --- Revised ....
> that was Thomas Cameron ... and Vice King of Linux Land at BofA.
>
> Austin
>

Austin,

Read the online banking "Service Agreement" available from bofa.com, I'll
quote the following section:

X. Your System Requirements


In order for you to access and retain records in connection with Online
Banking, Business Online Banking, and Transfers Outside Bank of America,
your system must meet the following requirements:

An IBM or Macintosh-compatible computer
Internet access
An Internet browser

For customers enrolled into Online Banking prior to February 14th, 2004...
Netscape Navigator 4.08/Netscape Communicator 4.7 or later versions
Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 or later versions (4.51 for Macintosh
users)

For customers enrolled into Online Banking after February 14th, 2004
For PCs using Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000, ME, XP:
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher
Microsoft Internet Explorer with AOL 5.5 or higher
Netscape 6.2 and higher
For Macintoshes using OS9 and OS 10:
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher
Microsoft Internet Explorer with AOL 5.0 or higher
Netscape 6.2 and higher
Safari 1.0 (of OS 10 only)


To print or download disclosures you must have a printer connected to your
PC or sufficient hard-drive space to save the disclosure.


...Doesn't look like Linux is on the list as being acceptable at BofA,
either!  Maybe TC can help pull in the right direction for us?  My primary
banking is through BofA.  I'm on a contract in a city (out of state) that
doesn't have a BofA for about 30mi...so I opened a WF account for basic
banking functionality and because there are a million WF's in the Phoenix
metro area...which means that when I get back, I'll be able to deal with
my account issues.

Of course, it can be suggested that they are not actually refusing Linux
from the discourse in their Service Agreement, but it isn't exactly a
welcoming party, either.  You certainly couldn't run Linux on Sparc or
Alpha, for example, and meet their requirements.


Take Care.

Rob!