Anyone with a mobile phone can now bank on the go, thanks to FirstCaribbean International Bank’s Mobile Banking service. Customers of FirstCaribbean can do their banking via SMS text messaging and immediately receive their account information via return SMS text.

After a successful launch of this new service in Barbados, Cayman, and the Eastern Caribbean Islands, FirstCaribbean is making this service available to Jamaica customers starting today.

With FirstCaribbean Mobile Banking, customers can:

• Request their account balance
• Request the last 5 transactions that occurred during the past 30 days.
• Transfer funds between their accounts
• Set up weekly account balance alerts
• Set up threshold alerts.  For example, they can set an alert to come to them if their account balance falls below a certain amount or if it goes above a certain amount.

FirstCaribbean’s Chief Marketing Officer, Peter Steenveld, noted that the new service means the bank’s customers can now do their banking anywhere, at any time and on the go. “What’s so exciting about our service is that you can access it on any type of mobile phone. You don’t need to have one of the latest models of smart phone to be able to use our mobile banking service. Any phone that can send or receive text messages will put your latest account information right in the palm of your hand. Our service is safe, convenient, and it’s fast, so there’s no waiting for web pages to download.”

Customers signing up for FirstCaribbean Mobile Banking can access up to 6 of their Checking or Savings accounts, and is available to customers of any mobile phone service provider. SMS charges will be the same as what any customer would pay for their cellular service provider for text messages.

Apart from being convenient and easy to use, FirstCaribbean’s Mobile Banking service is safe.  Stringent security measures are in place to protect their customers’ financial information and details.  Text messages will only be sent to the mobile phone number that is registered with the bank by the customer, who must verify his/her identity at the time of registration. Account details or any financial information will not be sent to any third party.  Account numbers are never sent to the mobile phone.

Director, Retail, Wealth & Small Business Banking in Jamaica, Christopher Denny added: “Our staff participating in the pilot this new service, loved it. We received many positive comments about the speed and convenience of the service. One feature that was particularly well received was the balance threshold alerts. People testing the service were pleased to be able to get an alert when they received a deposit – for example when their salaries were deposited to their accounts – or if their balances went below a certain limit, and then to be able to transfer from one account to the other – all without setting foot in the bank!”

FirstCaribbean is not charging any fees for the Mobile Banking service.

Source: FirstCaribbean