Citi Mobile offers real-time banking info

Citibank unveiled a downloadable application for customers looking to manage their accounts on the go.
Citi Mobile allows users to view real-time account balances, track their purchases, pay bills, transfer funds and find a nearby ATM. The application is expected to launch in California this week and is slated for national rollout by midyear.
The offering runs on more than 100 handset models, including feature phones and the BlackBerry. The service can be deactivated immediately when a cellphone is lost or stolen.
“For our clients, it’s like having Citibank Online in the palm of their hand,” said Maura Markus, president of Citibank North America.
Customers will be able to register for Citi Mobile online and, eventually, over the phone or at brick-and-mortar outlets.
The announcement is the latest move by U.S. financial institutions to extend their services to mobile. Citi said earlier this year that it is teaming with Obopay on a person-to-person wireless payment application; the company is also conducting a pilot for contactless payments with MasterCard PayPass. Visa several weeks ago launched a platform to support contactless payments, and HSBC Bank USA is testing a service that couples its contactless technology with mobile phones.