Sorry PNC, hello Citizens

So I tried again today to apply for a checking account at PNC. And I'll be damned if I didn't hit a dead-end "Error 500" at Step 4 of 5 ... twice!



I've notified my friend Doug again (for the record, he actually works on the commercial side of the bank), but it's too late for this prospect. Citizens' online app may have had 14 steps (and they don't reimburse all your ATM fees like PNC), but I made it through on the first try without any technical problems.

Larger question: why can't 37 signals make a product for banks, one that doesn't suck? Is it because good web development involves creativity and risk-tolerance that simply have no place in a bank's corporate culture? I mean, do you want your money with a bank known for being risky? Feed back to Chad Whitacre.