Emirates Bank Group the first local bank to launch PDA banking

During Gitex2003, EBG will reveal the availability of this service and will demonstrate to the visitors at stand Number 501, Hall number 5. On the introduction of this new service, Mr. Mohammed Al Jallaf, Senior Manager Electronic Banking Services said 'We are proud to be the first local bank to provide such innovative service to our clients. Through this new delivery channel our customers can access many of our Internet banking system functionalities using their hand-held devices. This exceptional solution will address the need for convenience and instant access to information around the clock and from anywhere in the world that facilitates in executing everyday financial requirements.'

While connecting to the Internet, the built-in Internet browser of any Pocket PC PDA or Smart Phones will enable EBG customers to access a user-friendly and secured banking website to perform a set of banking functions. These functions were carefully selected after studying the customers banking behavior for the past few years in all other EBG Banking Electronic delivery channels. These functions consist of the ability to view the available balances, account statements and Credit Cards statements. It also provides the ability to instantly transfer funds anywhere in the world, to pay utility companies such as Etisalat and DEWA. Additionally, the customer can view the latest competitive exchange and deposits rates.

'The bank however, will add many other features and products in this service during the first quarter of 2004. Eventually all banking activities will be added on quarterly basis'. Mr. Al Jallaf also added 'The beauty of this service is that the customers don't have to subscribe separately to it, all BankNet subscribers and meBANK customers are automatically registered in this service. They simply need to access the Internet in their hand-held devices and go to the bank's PDA login page, put their User ID & Password and enjoy PDA banking with us'.

On the development of this service, Mr. Al Jallaf reveled 'This service was totally developed in-house using the banks own ISO 9001 certified IT Department. 'In summer 2003, we decided to introduce this service to our clients, the IT project managers and programmers were up to the challenge to develop such a complex and secured system in a very short period of time, yet leaving enough room for the business users to finalize their testing and certifications to make the system ready for release in GITEX 2003'.

EBG started its history in providing Innovative technologies and were the first to release and market Electronic Banking Services with the launch of First Internet Banking service in the region back in 1996. The popularity of the service, that is called BankNet till date receives excellent acceptance among the users. In 1999, Bank GSM the first mobile banking system was introduced to provide all banking services, which enabled EBG customers to access their bank account details 24 hours a day and from any where in the world using two-way Short Messaging System (SMS). In 2000, Emirates bank pioneered the first payment gateway in the region, providing e-Commerce websites with the facility to accept and authorize all the major credit cards.

In mid March 2001 EBG commenced with the first and only virtual bank in the region-meBANK, inclusive of Brick-&-Mortar branches. In a very short period of time it has become the largest retail bank in the region having thousands of retail accounts and many unmanned outlets in United Arab Emirates.

On the deployment of new electronic banking technology Mr. Al Jallaf, concluded, 'The launch of PDA is yet another milestone in our history of providing innovative electronic banking channels to our clients'.