A major problem with all of these personal finance startups is that I can't use their software.
I happen to live in Norway...have you thought about the problem of getting access to data from banks that aren't quite as standards-compliant as their American counterparts? We have excellent Internet banking systems over here (generally speaking better than yours, or so I hear), but there is no chance in hell that you'll have time to make a database of every single bank and its system. I tried out one of the other startups mentioned in the article, and one of them actually has _one_ Norwegian bank in its database...out of 30 or so.
I do, however, want to use your software. The systems currently in place are a _lot_ more clunky than they should be, and it is difficult to see the big picture in my personal finances without the pie charts.
Any suggestions? I have the potential to be a really devoted customer.
Marvin: I know that Norwegian banks don't use OFX, but maybe they use an equivalent protocol. Do you know if they use / support HBCI? Or anything else? Let us know!
Also, there _is_ a chance that we can make a system for each of the banks (since we have the infrastructure already working!) All we need are test bank accounts -- if you could provide them, you'd be set :)
I have looked around for any export options, but I couldn't find any. I did send an e-mail to the corporation (https://nettbank.edb.com/) that maintains the system asking whether they have plans to support any such protocols.
The language barrier is a bitch, eh... :/ I'd say we abolish all other languages than English. Much easier.
The language barrier is suddenly problematic. However, not having an export option is more of an issue, I think. Aren't even CSV / Excel exports provided?
Oh my. You're not half bad at this. I am sorry I missed it. Now I feel really embarassed :\
There are two links, not implemented in the demo, that export either a .csv file or an Excel spreadsheet containing data on all transactions in a single account, for the last 1.5 months. Four columns: date, explanation, in, out.
there is no chance in hell that you'll have time to make a database of every single bank and its system
Perhaps you need something with web-like or Wiki-like adoption characteristics.
If just a few customers from each bank could contribute the logic to access it to a larger site then soon all the banks with any customers will be accessable.
I happen to live in Norway...have you thought about the problem of getting access to data from banks that aren't quite as standards-compliant as their American counterparts? We have excellent Internet banking systems over here (generally speaking better than yours, or so I hear), but there is no chance in hell that you'll have time to make a database of every single bank and its system. I tried out one of the other startups mentioned in the article, and one of them actually has _one_ Norwegian bank in its database...out of 30 or so.
I do, however, want to use your software. The systems currently in place are a _lot_ more clunky than they should be, and it is difficult to see the big picture in my personal finances without the pie charts.
Any suggestions? I have the potential to be a really devoted customer.