For Christmas, I recieved an Iphone 4. Ever since, I’ve found myself doing the same things I once did on my MacBook, now on my Iphone. I check e-mails,  read through the days technical news, and especially manage my finances.

As a frequent online banker, I’ve had my share of time spent on Suntrust’s primary website. I’ve had my qualms with it, primarily the realtime delay between when stuff occurs and when its posted, but recently, I’ve been spending less time on the Suntrust website, and more time on the Suntrust Mobile website.

Simple

The Suntrust Mobile site is an amazing time saver; it ignores any advertisements I would typically get when logging into Suntrust’s primary website. While these ads might be a simple click stating, “No. I would still prefer to receive my statements on paper,” with Suntrust Mobile I’m no longer forced to wait the time it would take to load a second page.

Additionally, your not boggled down with useless tools and links that the average user would never use; instead, you see a simple login with a Suntrust banner. Simple. And it works too, who wouldn’t want less load time?

Besides load time, I’ve found many more unique features that make me prefer it over their primary site any day. For one, I plan on being the only person using my phone to check my banking information; that said, I’m glad it gives me the option to keep my User ID stored so that next time I visit the site, it’s already typed for me. Who really wants to sit their typing a long drawn out login every time they want to check their balance?

Once you’ve logged in, you’re provided five simple ap-like icons that let you navigate to your intended path. Again, Suntrust provided a simple solution to online banking, no boring text-links, advertisments, stock updates, announcements, or additional unnecessary items to load.

Pleasant Not Perfect

However, life’s not perfect and that said – the Mobile site features one major flaw. Once a user has navigated to any accounts, typically you’re able to see your transactions listed with their date, amount, status, and balance, then click for further information about each charge. With the Mobile site, your stuck without knowing your balance per transaction or individual transaction date; instead, you can just view the amount debited or credited to your account in a list style format – with a total atop the page.

This may not be the end of the world, but if I see any questionably named charges arise, not being able to find out more information on each item, would cause me to login to Suntrust’s primary site.

The Download

Lastly, when you’ve decided you’re done managing your wealth (or lack of), don’t fret if you forget to sign out. Suntrust Mobile conveniently times out after what seems to be two minutes or so. Nicely done. Overall, If I were to rate Suntrust’s site, I’d give it an  4.5 out of 5. It’s fully functional, quick and to the point, but lacks the ability to give full transaction information – a simple update and the site could be an easy 5.

I’d also like to give thanks to Suntrust for providing an exclusive Mobile Safari device website; Suntrust has an additional Mobile site for non-Mobile Safari devices.