Europe : Vodafone UK customers will have access to their finances, free of charge*, directly from Vodafone Internet On Your Mobile, over the MONILINK mobile banking network.  The service allows customers of the UK's leading banks, including HSBC, first direct, Alliance & Leicester and, from later this summer, Royal Bank of Scotland, NatWest and Ulster Bank in Northern Ireland, to check their balance, request a mini-statement and even top-up their or their friends'/family's 'pay as you talk' mobile phones.

Customers can now register their bank or building society account for MONILINK mobile banking directly from the Vodafone Internet On Your Mobile home page.  Once registered, customers are able to connect to their account using a secure application stored on their mobile. On accessing MONILINK, the customer is prompted to enter a unique passcode, registered with their bank or building society, before secure access is granted to their account. 

Al Russell, Head of Vodafone Internet On Your Mobile said: "With the launch of the Vodafone Internet On Your Mobile we want to give customers access to all the services they see as essential, in the palm of their hand.  Banking is one of the most important services that our customers use and by partnering with the MONILINK network we can ensure that all of our customers are able to access their bank accounts on the move, whenever they wish."

The MONILINK service has been developed by Monitise, a specialist in mobile banking technology, and VocaLink, the transaction specialists behind the UK's ATM network, processing over eight billion transactions per year including 15 per cent of Europe's automated payments.  Monitise is currently working with partners across the world, including Metavante in the United States and T-Systems in Germany, to create a single mobile banking and payments ecosystem for the global population.

Alastair Lukies, CEO OF MONILINK added: "The mobile phone is the world's personal communications device and it's only natural that consumers want to use it as the 'remote control' to essential services.  Vodafone's commitment to providing mobile banking services is a great step in ensuring that financial provision in the UK is as convenient and accessible as possible. 

* Valid until the end of 2007