MANILA, Philippines - The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) is offering alternative banking channels through BPI Express Mobile Mall, a service facility under BPI’s 24/7 Banking that gives clients the freedom to use their mobile phones to shop, order coffee, or buy movie tickets from merchant partners.
BPI senior vice president and head of Overseas Banking and Channels Services Teresita B. Tan pointed out that majority of the country’s population own mobile phones.
“Using the available technology, BPI Express Mobile Mall provides the means to make activities like buying clothes or getting a cup of coffee convenient and easy,” Tan added.
The BPI Express Mobile Mall facility is an applet that can be downloaded into a GPRS-capable mobile phone. Once connected to the Internet – whether via Wifi or GPRS – users can now utilize the applet to leisurely “go shopping” without having to leave their homes. Purchases are immediately debited to the user’s registered BPI account. Current merchant partners for the BPI Express Mobile include Phillips and Memo Express, retailer of Nokia mobile phones. Also on board is the Rustan’s Group of Companies.
The Rustan’s group includes Rustans’ Supermarket, Rustan Coffee, Stores Specialist Inc., Starbucks Coffee, Rustan Marketing Corp., Shopwise, Rustans Specialty Concepts Inc. and Rustan Marketing Specialist Inc., which carries over 50 brands including Marks & Spencer, Zara, Gap, Debenhams, and Diesel, among others.
Ayala Malls’ Sure Seats is also a merchant partner. Through the BPI Express Mobile Mall service, clients can enjoy the ease and convenience of securing movie tickets without the hassle of lining up at the counter. No need to claim tickets as well, the validation sent via SMS serves as the movie ticket.
“When you can do banking transactions on the go – anytime, anywhere – you gain time to do other things,” Tan added.
To use the BPI Express Mobile Mall Facility, BPI clients must be Express online users and have GPRS-capable mobile phones. Registration can be done through the internet and activation of the registration through any BPI ATM kiosks.