MBNA launches new mobile banking text service

A new mobile phone service enabling UK customers to text for their credit card information has been launched by MBNA.

By using the new Mobile Banking Text service, customers can use their mobile phone to get credit card account information, including balance, payments and transactions, within seconds by simply texting to a dedicated mobile short-code number - 83838.

Ian Craig, Sales, Service and Operations executive for Bank of America Europe Card Services, which operates the MBNA brand, said: "Our customers' needs and expectations are changing - they want greater control and choice in managing their finances, and they want to do so in a way that fits their lifestyles.

"Newer technology, including mobile phone functionality, SMS, the Internet and voice recognition systems are transforming the way our customers expect us to interact with them. The Mobile Banking Text service is one of a number of exciting new improvements we will be making to our services.

"With this service, we are able to provide our customers with another way to bank that is simple, straightforward and puts their credit card information at their fingertips whenever they need it."

The Mobile Banking Text service is available across the full range of credit cards managed by MBNA, which includes more than five million customers.

To use the service, customers with mobile phone numbers registered to their accounts can simply send Bal, Trans or Bill to 83838 for the latest information on their accounts.

The service is provided at no charge to customers (although the request may incur a standard text message charge in accordance with the customer's mobile network) and will work with any SMS-enabled UK mobile phone operated from within the UK.

More details on the service are available at mbna.co.uk/help-centre/using-your-card/mobile/mobile-banking-text-service.html.

In recent weeks, MBNA has launched paperless statements for customers signing up new Internet accounts. The service is now available across all MBNA core and affinity products. Customers can visit mbna.co.uk/paperless for more details.

MBNA has also opened up the choice for customers to activate their new credit cards online. All new customers on MBNA's core products are able to do so now and it will be rolled out across MBNA's affinity products by the end of August this year. Customers will be offered the choice of activating their new credit card online or via an associate in our contact centre via mbna.co.uk/activate.