It won't though, because there's a ecosystem of banking/insurance/whatever apps that have bought into the android/iphone lockdown mindsete that people will simply be locked out of. Open alternatives can grow when there is a viable means of slow growth, and cutting off the oxygen to such things is the implicit intent.

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ipdashc an hour ago | parent | next [-]

> banking/insurance/whatever apps

I know banking apps are the typical example, but I've always wondered why. I use my bank's app maybe once or twice a year when I need to Zelle someone, which I only need to do when they don't have Venmo. (Unless we consider Venmo a banking app.)

I only have one bank's app installed, the rest of my banks I only interact with over their website, on desktop.

As for insurance, I've never had an insurance company's app installed.

Am I just an outlier here? Honestly, if I switched to a non standard OS, I'd be more annoyed about losing, say, Google Maps, Uber/Lyft, or various chat apps. Banking and insurance just don't come to mind at all as something I need my phone for.

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edent an hour ago | parent | next [-]

My bank sends me an alert when my card is used to make a transaction - handy for spotting fraud.

I get an alert when a payment comes it - handy for knowing if a client has paid.

I can quickly check my balance - handy for knowing if I can afford another round of drinks.

I can repay a friend in two taps - handy if they've paid for dinner.

Is anything essential? No. Is it something people use multiple times per day? Yes!

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Markoff 14 minutes ago | parent | next [-]

I can get alerts in email or messages, no need dedicated app for that, I can track there also my balance, so only useful thing app provides are easy wire transfers from phone, which I never do, if I wanna transfer money is much more convenient work big display, proper keyboard and mouse than from phone.

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firtoz 29 minutes ago | parent | prev [-]

Could all of these be handled through openbanking?

	▲	xprnio 18 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		Yes

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1vuio0pswjnm7 20 minutes ago | parent | prev | next [-]

"I'm am just an outlier here?"

No. The "banking app doesn't work" argument against non-corporate mobile OS, raised incessantly is HN comments, is bogus

I want a "phone", i.e., small form factor computer, that can run something like NetBSD, or Linux. But I have no intention of using it for commercial transactions. Mobile banking is not why I want to run a non-corporate OS

I want to use it for recreation, research and experimentation

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Aerroon an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

2FA is a requirement in Europe. I can't log into my bank account without my phone being able to run the app.

	▲	xprnio 17 minutes ago \| parent \| next [-]
		But 2FA is moot if it’s the same device as your bank app, is it not?
	▲	Markoff 11 minutes ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		I would stop using bank requiring phone app to do banking, simple as that, both my main EU accounts use sms verification codes and extra password, which is fine with me. If they will require an app, they will lose customer.
	▲	dheera 17 minutes ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		2FA and Google SafetyNet are two completely different things. Your banking app can implement 2FA without SafetyNet.

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avtolik an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Banks often use their app for a second factor auth. here.

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BenjiWiebe an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I can't deposit checks over the website, and I use a bank with no physical locations near me.

	▲	nradov 23 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		That's true, but the notion that we're still using paper checks in 2026 is so crazy. And yet they remain the cheapest way to handle many transactions in the US financial system. Like a lot of small healthcare providers still prefer to receive paper checks from insurance companies because the electronic payment processors take a 3% fee.

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dheera 18 minutes ago | parent | prev [-]

I haven't had issues with the mobile apps of 3 of the most major US brokerages. They run fine on rooted phone. They do everything I'd want a bank to do anyway.

Ditch your bank if they have issues. If their retention department asks why you're leaving, tell them their app doesn't work.

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Denatonium an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

The best solution for this is to buy a $30 burner phone at Walmart and use it unactivated, tethered to your main de-Googled device. You can use the burner for only tasks requiring Play Integrity.

Make sure to leave one star reviews on all such apps that you run into.