Forum: Digital communications from financial institutions should be labelled clearly

Financial institutions like banks and insurance companies are moving towards online statements and digital notifications. But a crucial element appears to be missing from these communications: clear identification of the specific account or policy being referenced.

I manage multiple accounts and insurance policies for myself and my family, all linked to a single e-mail address. While this consolidation offers ease of access, it presents a significant challenge when institutions send out generic e-mails lacking specific details. 

Many times, I have received notifications about an “important update” or a “new statement available” without any mention of the account number, policy number, or even the name of the person it pertains to.

This lack of labelling is time-consuming and frustrating. I have to log in to multiple accounts, using different passwords, just to decipher which item of correspondence belongs to which account or family member.

In an age where technology allows for seamless personalisation, it seems a basic expectation that financial institutions should be able to include at least a partial account or policy number, or the name of the primary account holder, directly within the subject line or body of their digital correspondence.

This simple addition would drastically improve efficiency and reduce the ambiguity that currently plagues these communications.

I hope all financial institutions can adopt more user-friendly practices in their digital communications.

Ng Beng Choo