Citibank and Etisalat launch Etisalat Instant Payment Channel

The new service will allow Citibank cardmembers to call Citibank's call center round-the-clock, 365 days a year from anywhere in the world and perform a host of payment transactions normally performed at Etisalat service points.

Card customers using the new phone instant payment channel will be able to inquire their outstanding balances against bills and make instant payment and to re-charge their WASEL account and/or renew their subscriptions from anywhere in the world at anytime.

Furthermore, the Instant Payment Channel provides cardmembers, who use the service to recharge WASEL accounts, an additional Credit of 10% of the value recharged, while they earn Skywards miles or CitiDollars on each payment made using the new automated facility.

"At Citibank, we strive to provide best-in-class banking service, evident in our range of superior products and services," said Rajeev Kakar, Regional Head for Citibank's Consumer Bank in Turkey, Middle East & Africa, who is based in UAE. "Developed with the region's leading telecom operator, The Etisalat Instant Payment Channel is yet another convenient way for settling Etisalat bills and managing Etisalat accounts. We are proud to be part of this new innovation which directly addresses customer needs and aspirations."

"Etisalat is very pleased to partner with Citibank to bring such a benefit to our mutual customers. By linking one's telecom and banking transactions, we believe we are enabling people to save time on two of the most common transactions. Etisalat's virtual service points will soon be in a whole host of venues, bringing the corporation closer to each and every subscriber" commented Salim Al Sharhan, Executive vice president-Finance, Etisalat.

"We have invested heavily over the last few years to ensure that our infrastructure is geared towards achieving the highest level of Customer Service," added Mr. Al Sharhan. "Making it easier to pay phone bills is just one of the many improvements implemented by the Corporation and there are now several ways to pay bills without even having to visit Etisalat. There are already plans in place to extend the service to other banks in the UAE."

The Etisalat Instant Payment Channel, a first in the market, demonstrates Citibank's technological edge deployed to meet the diverse needs of the UAE customer base. The bank has been at the forefront of developing Internet-based delivery capabilities for both retail customers (Citibank Online) and corporate clients (CitiDirect) in the UAE, in addition to other B2B e-commerce initiatives that provide clients with full procurement solutions. The personal banking offer is backed by the sophisticated CitiPhone Banking service, a virtual branch meeting all banking needs over the telephone.