Bank of America has launched several new online and mobile capabilities for its Merrill Edge customers, including an app for Android, a remote check deposit function for iPhone, a bill-pay feature for iPad, and an online investment product education centre.

The enhancements come in response to findings from the November Merrill Edge Report which indicated that one-quarter of mass affluent respondents were “avid users of mobile banking,” according to Merrill Edge executive Alok Prasad.

A new app has been developed for Android users, enabling customers to view investment balances, place trades, research investments and transfer funds between their linked banking and investment accounts. 

The iPad app bill-pay function allows eligible customers to schedule, edit or manage online bill payments. Additionally, the remote check deposit functionality is now available for the iPhone app, a feature allowing users to take a photograph of a check with the device and have it deposited directly into their account.

Meanwhile, the investment product education center provides Merrill Edge customers with access to research stocks, options, exchange traded funds, mutual funds and fixed income products, providing a combination of investment news, research, reports, education, articles and analysis.

Merrill Edge also offers MarketPro, which is a customizable trading and streaming market data platform.

“Our customers want more convenient access to their accounts and the ability to invest through a variety of emerging technologies,” said Paul Vienick, Merrill Edge self-directed investing executive. 

Last week, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management also unveiled a raft of online and mobile features in a bid to make account access and handling more convenient for its clients. 

The new MLWM features included a new Android app, a remote check deposit function for iPhone and a bill payment service for iPad. The "MyMerrill" app for iPhones allows clients to deposit checks remotely into eligible Merrill Lynch investment accounts.