Bank accounts with no card reader for online?

[Bossk128]

Is anybody with a bank whose digital banking does NOT require them to use a card reader authentication scheme?? This has cropped up a few times for me now where I need to set up a payment and don't have the card reader to hand. Usually a phone call to phone banking allows me to use it, but today they said I can make a single payment but the card reader should be used to authorise a payee to stay in my payee list. I don't want to carry a card reader around with me all the time, it totally goes against the idea of digital banking for me (quick simple and accessible, unlike visiting a branch).

So, are any digital banking accounts free from hardware based authentication and rely on user/passwords only?

 

[Bossk128]

Bank Of Scotland/Halifax

I have a BoS account too, and it also requires a card reader (but no idea if I can use phone banking without a card reader).

 

[Bossk128]

another +1 for Santander, they even have an iPhone app, brilliant for managing dosh on the go, plus their 123 current account is great for anyone who regularly pays their bills by direct debit, essentially you get cash back on them

So far this is the winner, the 1-2-3 account is something I was looking at anyway. Am I right in thinking there is a £2 a month fee?

Edit: looks like they do not have an Android app yet, not for the UK anyway.

 

[Bossk128]

nearly all banks? you only get the reader if you want it afaik.

Nope, both BoS and RBS (and Nationwide when I was with them) sent me a card reader unprompted. Now RBS tell me it is mandatory to use one. I understand why they want to use security hardware, but it totally knackers the convenience for me.

The RBS app for Android is quite good but lacking in functionality at the moment. Maybe they will build in the ability to set up new accounts at some point. I think I'm going to have a look at Santander though.

Thanks for all the replies.