First Direct First U.K. Bank to Launch Mobile Payment Service

Online and 24-hour telephone bank First Direct says it has become the first U.K. bank to launch a true transactional mobile banking application for Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch.

The app, launched today on the Apple App Store, allows First Direct customers to check balances, view the last 20 account transactions, make payments and transfer money between accounts.

Matt Colebrook, CEO of First Direct commented, "The iPhone App is as a huge step forward, but it's just the beginning of our ambitions for mobile banking. Our plans for 2011 are to make our 'on the go' mobile service available on other smartphone devices. We chose to go with the iPhone first because that's where our customers are. Over the last 12 months, the iPhone has grown to become the 6th largest source of visitors to our website and whilst Android is growing rapidly, it's nowhere near the iPhone just yet."

The bank's iPhone app allows customers to view their balances and last 20 transactions, make transfers between their First Direct bank accounts and make payments to a person or organization.