Alliance & Leicester nets six of the best

Alliance & Leicester’s drive to prevent internet fraud and safeguard its online banking customers has seen it clinch a roster of awards from the notoriously competitive computing industry.

Among the prizes racked up by Alliance & Leicester’s Internet Banking team were the coveted Innovation Winner in the CNET Networks UK Technology Awards 2006, the New Product, Service or Innovation winner in the Financial Services Forum 2006 awards and winner in the innovation category of the Institute of Financial Services’ Best Retail Direct Channels Initiative.

Alliance & Leicester won the awards for its pioneering two-factor, two-way authentication system launched to tackle the rise in fraudsters’ ‘phising’ e-mails. It works by identifying the customer’s computer before confirming a genuine transaction is underway by showing the customer a unique picture and pre-agreed phrase.

Alliance & Leicester was the first UK bank to deploy the new system and worked closely with innovative computing industry leaders to get it up and running.

Andy Muddimer, Head of Internet Banking at Alliance & Leicester, said: “We take customer security extremely seriously. The two-way, two-factor innovation puts us at the forefront of online security – yet it is simple, straightforward, cost-effective and does not require customers to invest in new hardware or software.

“Winning these awards is clear recognition from the notoriously competitive computer industry that Alliance & Leicester is doing something right to prevent on-line fraud, putting us in the front line of banking innovation and cementing our position as the UK’s leading direct bank.”

Alliance & Leicester’s roster of internet banking successes

CNET Networks UK Technology Awards 2006 – Innovation – Winner
Financial Services Forum2006 – New product, service or innovation – Winner
Institute of Financial Services’ Best retail Direct Channels initiative – Innovation – Winner
The 2006 BCS IT Professional Awards – Business Achievement – Medallist
The 2006 BCS IT Professional Awards – Technology – Medallist
The 2006 BCS IT Professional Awards – President’s Award For Investment In Information Security – Medallist

Customers can apply for an Alliance & Leicester Premier Direct or Premier current account by visiting alliance-leicester.co.uk/currentaccounts