However, Leung pointed out that the e-cert scheme was one of the first such schemes implemented, and as anyone in IT knows, early adopters often get the short end of the stick. That said, Leung noted that his bank will continue to support customers currently using e-certs as a second factor even as they may roll out hard tokens with OTP function.

"So far you see banks all opting for different options," said Ng from Dah Sing, "as there's no accepted standard technology or method for banks to adopt. I don't think in the near future, there will be a single standard tool or technology that all banks will adopt."

Online take-up

As for take-up in online banking and stock trading, Leung pegs it as 30 to 40 percent among his userbase. "That's the metric we use for transactions," he said, "although many customers check our website for information and register SMS alerts, like stock prices and currency rates, without doing a transaction-we provide this information as a service."

Ng from Dah Sing said while e-banking was not "hugely popular...we are still one of the e-banking providers with the most customers [in Hong Kong]. We are still expanding our e-channels, [and also] making it possible for mobile banking via emerging mobile devices."