HSBC starts cell phone banking

JAKARTA (JP): Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) launched here on Wednesday a new service enabling customers to make banking transactions through the short message system (SMS) on their cellular phones.

Lily Budiono, HSBC's senior vice president financial services, said that the service, called HSBC PonselBanking, is available through cellular operator PT Telkomsel.

The technology is supported by IBM and Singapore-based eMobile Pte. Ltd., and includes security guarantees for the conducting of transactions, she explained.

Lily said that the new service allowed the bank's customers to check their accounts and credit card balances, transfer funds, and also get information on conversion rates.

"We hope that at least 10,000 of our 40,000 personal customers will use the service," she told reporters after the launching.

HSBC will open two branches next month in Pluit, North Jakarta and Surabaya respectively as part of the seven branches to be opened this year.

Lily said that the bank would also start providing Internet banking services later this year to further facilitate its customers. (05)