You say things like "if Money 2005 will better support citibank" that seem
to suggest that Microsoft uniquely adds things to Money on a bank-by-bank
basis based on what the banks want Microsoft to do. They don't (besides
advertising the services offered by the banks, as reported to them by the
banks).
See
http://www.microsoft.com/money/partner for some hint of what the FIs
have to do to play on Microsoft's terms.
Have you looked at
http://www.microsoft.com/money/online/FIList.asp?FIList=5???
Now, if your point is that Microsoft would like to brag if Citibank was
playing along, that's probably true. But if you look at some of the names in
that last link, you'll find Microsoft is equally happy to brag about the
Seventh National Bank of East Podunk supporting Money.
If your point is that you don't have easy access to anybody at Citibank who
has a clue what they are doing to play along with the Money interfaces, I'm
sure that's true as well. And this fact certainly gives some indication of
how important Citibank thinks supporting Money is to their business. Call
'em up and ask if they'll rent you some money at 21% APR--I'll bet you'll
find lots of people ready to answer **THAT** question.
If you have lots of money there, like nearing 7 figures, you might call and
ask to speak to a VP. They're a dime a dozen at most banks. Threaten to take
your Money to Wells Fargo (or some other big bank), since they support this
2-way stuff and Citibank doesn't, unless Ms. VP can get you the answer, by
this time tomorrow, ahem, that Citibank will roll this 2 way stuff out in
the next thirty days. They are still unlikely to give a darn and you'll have
to take you money for a walk, but you might fell better about the whole
thing.
If you're thinking Microsoft is sitting around adding code to Money to
benefit Citibank's customers, fuggedaboutit. Whatever support Citibank
provides to Money users today for M04 is 99.999% likely to be exactly what
Citibank offers to M05 users tomorrow. But I could be wrong.
