Would You Want a Bank to Remote into Your Computer?

Anyone who has ever worked from home, or for a company with multiple locations, has likely experienced the scenario of giving someone remote access to their computer. (Shout out to all the “IT guys” who have solved whatever technical problem was driving us batty thanks to remote access!)

Interestingly, one bank is offering customers a similar experience if they’re having trouble with online banking. Axos Bank is rolling out technology that lets customer service agents view exactly what an account holder sees on their screen as they peruse the bank’s website. The agent can “co-browse” in order to help out the customer.

That goes against the grain these days, when chatbots are all the rage for helping customers navigate websites. (We’ve all had that annoying “How can I help you?” box pop up while frantically searching for how to make it disappear). According to American Banker, Axos says its method will bring a greater customer experience. That could well be true, but first it will need to overcome the psychological hurdle customers may face in allowing someone access to their computer.