UAE-based bank Emirates Islamic has begun letting customers request account information - such as balances and recent transaction details - over Twitter.
Open to saving and current account holders as well as credit card customers, the social banking feature will let registered users tweet Emirates Islamic with account queries, which will be answered via direct message.
Faisal Aqil, deputy CEO, consumer wealth management, Emirates Islamic, says: "Banking via Twitter is especially relevant given the UAE’s advanced social media and mobile phone penetration. With this new service, we are able to offer our growing customer base yet another quick and convenient method to access their banking requirements."
Emirates Islamic says that it is the first Islamic bank in the UAE to provide services via social media, although providers in other parts of the world have rolled out similar tools. Kenya's National Industrial Credit Bank lets customers view their balances and make payments via WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter.