The UK's Nationwide Bank has launched Europe's first Internet banking service for personal organisers. The 'Bank Anywhere' service runs on Microsoft's Pocket PC platform and is available over a range of personal digital assistants and mobile phones.
Once registered for Nationwide's online banking service, any customer with a suitable personal digital assistant (PDA) and phone (mobile, office or home based) can view account balances and a mini-statement (last 12 transactions) on up to 10 types of account at the Nationwide Web site. Information about the Nationwide current account, mortgages and personal loans is also available.
Nationwide chief executive, Brian Davis, says: "This is a European first and we look forward to rolling out an increasingly comprehensive range of mobile Internet services in 2001. Future enhancements to this service will include the ability to pay bills, transfer money between accounts and apply for accounts online."
The service is available to Nationwide Internet banking customers and offers mobile updates on the FlexAccount current account, credit card, InvestDirect, e-Savings, Instant Access ISA, Cashbuilder (card and passbook), Smart Account (card and passbook) and Smart 2 Save.
A suitable phone (mobile phone with infra-red modem or cable link, such as the Nokia 6210, or a normal home phone connection using a modem) with a PDA (such as the Compaq iPAQ H3630) using Microsoft Pocket PC is required.