MONILINK, the UK mobile banking and payments network, today announced that UK consumers can now set-up and receive text alerts informing them of the status of their accounts on a regular basis, as well as when their account is close to predefined limits or when payments are received. Royal Bank of Scotland, NatWest and Ulster Bank have announced they will be the first participating banks to offer the new service.

The service has been developed through close collaboration between the banking and mobile industries in order to meet the consumer, industry and regulatory demands for improved financial access. By using the ubiquity of SMS alerts, it ensures that all consumers can stay up to date with their money by simply carrying a mobile phone. With 52 million mobile phone owners in the UK, the announcement signifies the introduction of the most accessible banking service ever introduced.

Will Jones, Head of Delivery for Innovation at The Royal Bank of Scotland Group, said: “Our objective is to provide excellent service to our customers and offer them a choice in how they manage their money. It’s estimated that over a million consumers are already using their mobile phones to keep up to date with their money, which makes it one of the most popular ways to bank in the UK.

The introduction of text alerts means that our customers will now have the ability to set up alerts that notify them of the status of their accounts, and even set the limit that triggers the alert themselves.

We think the alerts will be a really valuable tool for those customers who want to keep a tight rein on their finances, and, in particular, we think people will really appreciate the opportunity to set their own flexible limits.”

Andrew Harrison, UK chief executive, Carphone Warehouse added: ““Banking is one of life’s essential activities and money savvy Brits already take a close interest in the state of money from day to day. As the UK’s largest retailer of mobile communications services, we are committed to helping our customers to manage their lives better by using clever services on their mobile. By combining trigger alerts with an ‘at their fingertips’ remote control is the perfect example of how the mobile industry is working with the UK’s leading high street banks to make sure that people’s money is, quite literally, always 'at hand'.”

Alastair Lukies, Chief Executive, MONILINK concluded: “The mobile phone has changed the way that consumers receive information, whether that is important business correspondence or the latest football score. Text alerts are the perfect medium to keep bank customers actively up to date with their money and allow them to make sure their money is working hard for them by prompting them in those moments when action is required. It keeps them in control, wherever they are 24/7.”

Monitise enables BlackBerry smartphone users to bank and pay on the move

Monitise plc [MONI.L] today announced that the MONILINK mobile banking and payments service is now available* on BlackBerry® smartphones**. The service, which is currently used by customers of the UK's leading banks, including HSBC, NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, first direct, Alliance & Leicester and Ulster Bank, across all major network operators, allows consumers and business people to keep track of their money while on the move, using a combination of an intuitive, secure application on the handset and SMS alerts.

The extension of mobile banking and payment services to BlackBerry® smartphones demonstrates the growing demand for mobile money management from the UK's businesspeople and the growing centrality of BlackBerry devices in the daily lives of both consumers and business leaders across the globe. In today's busy world, being able to manage your bank accounts alongside email and other essential business information is important for many people. For those that run their own businesses, it's absolutely business critical.

Ian Tandy, Director of eCommerce, Alliance & Leicester commented: "We are committed to providing the best possible service to our customers and this includes providing them with the widest choice of options when it comes to managing their money. Our customers already benefit from being able to use their mobile phones to keep track of their bank accounts and the extension of the service to BlackBerry devices will enable even more of our customers, especially those who bank with Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank, to monitor their cash flow whilst on the move anywhere in the world".

The announcement is another example of Monitise's commitment to bringing mobile banking and payments to the mass market of consumers at any time, from any location, using any device. Around half of all UK consumers have access to their bank accounts using its award winning range of services. In the coming months, Monitise expects to announce the availability of its services in other territories across the world, as well as the introduction of a range of new services, including inter-account transfers, peer to peer payments, bill settlement, international remittances and contactless (Near Field Communication) payments.

The BlackBerry solution puts the convenience of email, phone, messaging (SMS, IM, MMS), web browsing, multimedia, organiser and other applications literally in the palm of your hand. Now with Monitise's technology, it can also add banking services such as balance inquiries, funds transfers, mini-statements and text message alerts to that roster. The MONILINK service, which is delivered in the UK by in partnership with VocaLink, the operator of the UK's ATM network, ensures that all information carried is highly secure through the use of existing banking security standards throughout its service.

"The BlackBerry smartphone is often cited as the handset of choice for the world's business people and busy consumers. Bringing mobile banking and payments to the device cements BlackBerry's position as a leader and creates a truly ‘business critical' combination of services which will help improve the productivity and efficient working of many people," added Alastair Lukies, chief executive, Monitise plc.

* The service is available to personal BlackBerry customers and to Enterprise customers that have direct access to the internet from their handset and have the administrative rights to download and install applications from the internet.

** MONILINK is available on the BlackBerry 7100, 7130, 7210, 7220, 7230, 7250, 7280, 7290, 7510, 7520, 7730, 7750, 7780, 8100, 8300, 8320, 8700 and 8800.

The MONILINK service enables consumers to check the balance of their accounts, request mini statements and top-up pre-pay mobile phones directly form their bank sccounts from almost any location in the world. This secure service is protected by a personal passcode any any information displayed on the phone is automatically deleted. No personal details are stored on the handset itself, ensuring that information remains completely secure, even if the handset is lost or stolen.

Alastair Lukies, CEO of Monitise, said: "Mobile banking and payments is one of the fastest growing markets globally and the UK is leading the way in this area, becoming a global showcase for what can be offered to consumers in terms of both service and security. The MONILINK service puts the consumer first by bringing banks and mobile operators togther to work collaboratively."

The new mobile phone banking service will enable small business customers to check the balance of their accounts, request mini-statements and even top-up pre-pay mobile phones directly from their bank accounts, safely and securely - whenever they want and wherever they are in the world.

The expansion of the MONILINK service, which was rolled out to Alliance & Leicester's personal current account customers in January 2007, illustrates the bank's commitment to customer service innovation for all its customers. In particular, it will provide business customers, especially those who don't work from a fixed location, with the ability always to know if they have been paid, when a cheque has cleared, or if an upcoming payment is due.

This secure service is protected by a personal passcode and any information displayed on the phone is automatically deleted. No personal details are stored on the handset itself, ensuring that information remains completely secure, even if the handset is lost or stolen.

Steve Jennings, Director of Business Banking at Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank said: "Our new mobile phone banking service is the natural next step, complementing our award winning business current account products perfectly. Small business owners are understandably focused on building their businesses, and therefore, convenience is key to helping them to manage their finances."

Jennings adds: "Our customers will have the facility of being able to access the new service and receive up to date information on their business account at a time which suits them and the needs of their business. Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank already offers internet and telephone banking and our customers are able to carry out their everyday banking transactions at any of our branches or via the 14,000 UK Post Offices ^© ."

The service is available immediately and will be free for Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank customers until 31 August 2008. From 1 September 2008 a set monthly fee of just £1.50 will apply, allowing customers access to the service as many times they wish each month. To start using this service, existing customers simply register their details via www.alliance-leicestercommercialbank.co.uk/mobile .

John Milliken, Managing Director, MONILINK added: "Most business people are out and about running their businesses during the day, which can sometimes make it difficult to keep track of their accounts. However, the mobile phone is the one thing that is always with them, making it the perfect device for them to keep up to date with their money, from seeing if that cheque has gone out, to checking if that last customer invoice has been paid.

"Alliance & Leicester was one of the first banks in the UK to offer mobile banking, extending the service to their business customers is an example of their dedication to customer service. In the near future, I firmly believe that, all banks will follow Alliance & Leicester in offering mobile phone banking as an essential feature to all their customers."

Steve Jennings continues: "Since its launch in January 2007, the MONILINK service has proved to be very popular with Alliance & Leicester's personal current account customers. This extension of the service to our business banking customers is partly due to the popularity and feedback that we have received from our customers who already use the service."

For further information on Alliance & Leicester's Commercial Banking services and details of the MONILINK service, business owners should call 0800 587 0800, or visit http://www.alliance-leicestercommercialbank.co.uk/ .