Citi taps mobile tech to provide card info

MANILA, Philippines - Marrying the power of technology with topnotch banking, Citi brings another innovation via Citi Mobile SMS banking, a mobile phone-based service that allows cardholders to get their credit card information via Short Messaging Service or SMS.

Though text messaging, cardholders can check right away if they have reached their credit card limit or about to miss their payment due date.

Cecille Fonacier, customer franchise director of Citibank Philippines, said, “We are always looking for ways to provide better service to our customers. These days, better means faster, easier and available round the clock, wherever they may be. SMS banking certainly fits that bill.”

With Citi Mobile SMS Banking, Citi cardholders can easily and efficiently manage their credit card account through text, receiving instant information on their available balance, total amount due, minimum amount due, and payment due date.

To use the Citi Mobile Two-Way SMS Service, just follow the following format:

• To check for Citi card’s available balance: 

Text CITI <space> BAL <space> the last eight digits of the Citi card, then send to 2201. Example, CITI BAL 12345678.

• To check for total amount due, minimum amount due, and payment due date:

Text CITI <space> BILL <space> the last eight digits of the Citi card, then send to 2201. Example, CITI BILL 12345678.

There’s no need to enroll to start enjoying SMS banking. “If your mobile phone is already in our records, you can start texting for your account information right away. If not, we invite you to call the 24-hour CitiPhone at 995-9999 so we can register it in the system,” Fonacier said.

Citibank’s line-up of mobile phone-based services launched in the recent years include: Citi Alerts, where cardholders receive free text or e-mail alerts on their credit card account movements; Citibank Reload, where cardholders can load their own prepaid mobile phone account, or their loved ones, colleagues and friends simply by sending a text message; and most recently, Citi Mobile, which empowered them to authorize payments to their credit card without swiping their plastic — just via text.