First Direct, one of the UK’s leading banks, has launched an iPhone app which allows users to view bank account details through their smartphone.

The app, which is the first transactional iPhone app available in the UK, allows First Direct customers who have registered for First Direct internet banking to check their balances, make payments, view their last 20 transactions and transfer money between accounts.

Chief Executive at First Direct, Matt Colebrook, commented on the app:

“This is about making the banking experience simpler and quicker, allowing our iPhone enabled customers to access key features of our internet banking; whenever they want and wherever they want.”

He continues:

“The iPhone App is a huge step forward, but it’s just the beginning of our ambitions for mobile banking. Our plans for 2011 are to make our ‘on the go’ mobile service available on other smartphone devices.”

App adoption is not new amongst UK banks; Natwest and RBS, to name but a couple, have already released iPhone apps allowing customers simple online banking, but the First Direct app is the first to allow transactions.

To date the app is only available on iPhone and iPod Touch devices, although First Direct do plan to release the app on additional platforms as their client base on these devices grows.

The app can be downloaded for free from iTunes.

Via: The Financial Times