CBD's mobile banking system now offers customers a multitude of services

• Attijari SMS Banking System offers a wide variety of incoming and outgoing transaction requests and alerts.

• The new services will turn customers' mobile phones into virtual bank branches

These services aim to provide the benefits of comprehensive mobile banking to customers. This banking innovation is in addition to the existing wide variety of alert systems that CBD customers already avail of.

The new system will enable customers not only to track their bank account details and provide a record of recent transactions, but also carry out all types of payment transactions instantly. Mobile customers who may not have the time and facility to access the internet or spend time on phone banking, stand to gain immensely from this system as they can now transact for all their banking needs from the comfort of their home, offices or even while they are on the move.

Mahmoud Hadi, General Manager, Systems & Operations, described the launch of this system as a landmark event in the bank's technological advancement.

"With the launch of new services by our Attijari SMS Banking System, we once again prove that customer satisfaction is our topmost concern. We are delighted and so will our customers be, that the bank is constantly keeping pace with the fast-advancing technological know-how in financial transactions,"

Thomas Smith, DGM, Retail Banking, said, "What is unique about Attijari SMS Banking System is that it has a wide variety of incoming and outgoing transaction requests and alerts.

The services comprise fund transfer within an account; balance enquiry and providing information about the last three transactions on a bank account or a credit card; recharging Etisalat Wasel pre-paid card and payment of Wasel renewal fee; instant recharging of E-Dirham; instant payment of and inquiry about all Etisalat utility services like GSM, landline, Internet, Al Shamil and Evision; payment of electricity and water bill at DEWA, SEWA and ADDC. CBD has tied up with the utility and telecom majors to provide the bill payment facility.

Apart from the main banking transactions, the new services will also include additional SMS alerts and notifications about debit and credit card transactions, deposits and withdrawals, and cheque return. "Now that it has been activated, the new system would literally turn the SMS facility on customer's phones into a virtual bank," added Smith.