Performance data from 2021 reveals that most – but not all – Open Banking APIs are fast and reliable
January 2022 – Frollo, Australia’s leading Open Banking intermediary[1], has published its 2021 Open Banking API performance monitor. Based on over 15 Million API calls on its Open Banking platform in 2021, the report compares speed and – for the first time ever – reliability between banks. With only a few exceptions, most banks were found to be delivering a fast and reliable customer experience.
On average, the API response time in 2021 was 0.86 seconds and the reliability was 98.8%. Neobank Up led the charge, with an average response time of 0.26 seconds and 99.88% reliability of their Open Banking APIs in 2021..
Performance remains stable as the ecosystem grows
From July to December the number of live Data Holders included in Frollo’s Open Banking API analysis increased from 11 to 40[2]. Despite this growth, the average industry performance remained stable. API response times averaged below one second and reliability never dropped below 98%.
Up is the fastest and most reliable Data Holder in 2021
With an average response time of 0.26 seconds and 99.88% reliability across all Open Banking APIs, neobank, Up outperformed all other Data Holders in 2021.
Eight of the 25 Data Holders made it into the bottom right quadrant of fast (< 1 second) and reliable (98%+) as represented in the graph below. Meanwhile, five Data Holders took more than two seconds to respond, with a reliability of less than 96%.
Neobanks up to 36x faster than slowest Data Holders
Although industry averages show a fast and reliable ecosystem, a closer look at the two most popular APIs (for collecting transaction data and account information) shows a big difference between the front runners and some of the slower Data Holders.
Neobank Up had an average response time for the Accounts API of 0.11 seconds. That’s more than 36x faster than HSBC, which took 4.05 seconds to respond on average.
11 Data Holders, including 86:400, bcu and Beyond Bank, had a response time of 0.5 seconds or less when their Transactions for accounts API was called. The slowest Data Holder (MyState Bank) took close to 4 seconds, or almost 5x as long as the leaders.
About Frollo
Frollo is a purpose driven fintech and Australia’s first Open Banking intermediary. We help businesses use Open Banking data to deliver better customer outcomes. From reducing debt and increasing savings, to providing a better, more personalised customer experience.
Our modular, end-to-end Open Banking platform enables businesses to bring Open Banking powered use cases to market quickly by leveraging Australia’s most advanced and reliable CDR Gateway, with plug & play access to lending, personal finance management and customer onboarding solutions..
Trusted by clients like ANZ, Volt, REA Group, P&N Bank, bcu and Bank of Queensland, Frollo is an Australian market leader in Open Banking.
Assets and data
- Graphs:: https://frollo.com.au/blog/are-australian-open-banking-apis-up-to-the-task/
- Latest monthly monitor (Dec-21): https://frollo.com.au/open-banking/open-banking-api-performance/
Two additional performance graphs comparing speed between banks can be found below.
[1] Over 21 Million Open Banking API calls to date, more than 90% of all Open Banking API calls in Australia
[2] A Data Holder has to be live with a sufficient number of API calls to be included in this analysis
Jesse Pitts has been with the Global Banking & Finance Review since 2016, serving in various capacities, including Graphic Designer, Content Publisher, and Editorial Assistant. As the sole graphic designer for the company, Jesse plays a crucial role in shaping the visual identity of Global Banking & Finance Review. Additionally, Jesse manages the publishing of content across multiple platforms, including Global Banking & Finance Review, Asset Digest, Biz Dispatch, Blockchain Tribune, Business Express, Brands Journal, Companies Digest, Economy Standard, Entrepreneur Tribune, Finance Digest, Fintech Herald, Global Islamic Finance Magazine, International Releases, Online World News, Luxury Adviser, Palmbay Herald, Startup Observer, Technology Dispatch, Trading Herald, and Wealth Tribune.