CaixaBank Launches Facebook app

Spain's CaixaBank has launched a Facebook application that allows users to view their bank accounts and perform transactions via the social network.

The bank claims it is the first in Europe to offer such a service. The new service for will also provide quick access to the bank’s primary online channel, called Linea Abierta.

Any CaixaBank customer with a Facebook profile can join for free and activate the service via the Linea Abierta channel. Once activated, users can open the application via their personal profile or the bank’s Facebook page. Users will have to enter their online banking username and password each time the service is opened. CaixaBank says Facebook will not have access to personal banking information.

According to CaixaBank, the Facebook app features a dashboard can be used to display current accounts, cards and bills. As for transactions, CaixaBank’s banking platform for Facebook will start by supporting micro-donations to charities run by CaixaBank Welfare Projects. Users can select their favorite projects and make small donations of up to 15 euro, while the range of transactions will soon be extended to include operations such as person-to-person payments, the bank said.

Further, the service also supports the contracting of new products, the bank said. Initially the service will allow users to acquire personalized cards, which they can choose from photos on their Facebook profile, while the application will also offer a catalogue of over 1,000 different designs for users to choose from, based on their preferences and Facebook “likes".

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Bryan Yurcan is associate editor for Bank Systems and Technology. He has worked in various editorial capacities for newspapers and magazines for the past 8 years. After beginning his career as a municipal and courts reporter for daily newspapers in upstate New York, Bryan has ... View Full Bio