New research from Boston-based financial services consultingfirm ath Power underlines the immense popularity with consumers ofmobile remote deposit capture (“the most sought after mobilebanking feature,” said ath Power executive Michael McEvoy) and italso claims that there is rising consumer readiness to pay fees formobile banking.

In last year's ath Power survey, 81% of respondents said theywould not pay for mobile banking. This year,said McEvoy, that number dropped to 68%. That means about one inthree say they might pay for the service, stressed McEvoy.

He caveated that claim by indicating that where consumerwillingness to pay climbs is when they are exposed to advancedmobile banking features such as remote deposit, photo bill pay, anduse of voice to authenticate the user.

According to McEvoy, voice recognition would motivate one in three mobile customersto use mobile banking services more, while voice authenticationwould encourage many non-users to adopt mobile banking.

Mobile banking, said McEvoy, is a “clear opportunity” to buildcustomer loyalty and perhaps also to drive revenues.

Security worries remain a large issue, however, with “almosthalf” of mobile banking customers “unwilling” to use bill pay duemainly to security worries, said McEvoy.