19 July 2007
Mobile phone banking is helping customers to keep tighter control on their bank balances, First Direct has claimed.
According to the group, a division of HSBC, being able to access current accounts on the move has helped to make people more financially aware.
Figures from First Direct show an encouraging number of people opting to take advantage of the service.
Around 390,000 of its 1.2 million customers now use the SMS text messaging service to monitor their own spending habits.
Customers can check whether they are overdrawn, transfer money to another account, or check whether their salary has been paid on time.
Rob Skinner, spokesperson for First Direct said: "You can't beat the simplicity of a text message alert.
"People can be alerted when they are likely to be going into the red. It helps them manage their money a little better, particularly when they are living busy lives and they havent got time to check up on their banking every ten minutes.
"The mobile phone is something which we carry around with us, it's almost a remote control for our lives.
While he agreed the service was not suitable for every customer he believed it to be a useful development for many.
"We will all choose a slightly different way - some of us will always rely on the internet while other may prefer mobile phone banking - but ultimately it's up to the customer to choose the method which suits them best."
© 2008 Adfero Ltd
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