Bank Leumi Israel launches "SMS to ATM" service using an iPhone App

Bank Leumi Israel has recently announced that its customers can now use this innovative service, "SMS to ATM", using their iPhone as well. This, apparently, has made Bank Leumi Israel the world's first bank to enable the use of a web application through the cellular iPhone device.

Bank Leumi Israel and its subsidiaries comprise the largest banking group in Israel. The Bank has a vast deployment of branches in Israel, as well as presence in prominent countries like Switzerland, England, and the US. The bank engages in financial activities for a wide range of customers, from households to large corporations, and provides its customers with a wide variety of services, including private banking, capital market services, international trade, investment consultancy, and more.

The iPhone iLeumi application enables the bank's customers to surf the bank's website through a cellular device and perform any desired action, including withdrawing cash by sending a code via SMS, without having to use a magnetic card. Making the site accessible through iPhone allows immediate, fast, and efficient use anywhere and anytime, similar to computer web use. The application was developed by the bank's Israeli IT division, while maintaining high data security level, for secured and safe use by the customer.

Head of Operations and Administration Division at Leumi, Mr. Itzhak Malach, said that only a few banks in the world operate the "SMS to ATM" service and to the best of his knowledge, Bank Leumi Israel is the first in the world to integrate the service in its iPhone application. Malach noted that "Adding this service coincides with the bank's 'Leumi Digital' concept, which emphasizes full availability to the customer, simplicity of the products and services, attractiveness and cost savings for customers. The possibility of using this service also on the iPhone is a leap forward that improves the convenience of the service for iPhone owners, whose number continues growing every day," said Malach.

According to Malach, in the next stage the bank will explore the option to cooperate with banks around the world, and if this is realized, Bank Leumi customers who are traveling the world will be able to enjoy the revolutionary service outside of Israel as well.