Frost Bank, a financial institution in Texas, has launched Frost Mobile, a new banking service for consumers.

Frost Mobile works over the mobile Web and lets consumers view account balances and activity, as well as other key banking features. A text messaging service is set to begin in 2010.

“At Frost, we continually look for ways to make it easy for our customers to do business with us,” said Bobby Berman, executive vice president at Frost Bank, San Antonio. “Providing customers with yet another channel from which to access their accounts allows us to deliver even greater convenience.  

“We welcome customers to bank with us in the manner they prefer, whether that’s stopping by one of our 112 locations to talk to a banker, calling us to speak with a real person, logging in to our online banking service or logging in to Frost Mobile via a mobile device,” he said.

Frost Bank is the banking, investments and insurance subsidiary of Cullen/Frost Bankers Inc., a financial holding company. Frost operates only in Texas.

Warming up to mobile
The new mobile capabilities of Frost Mobile include viewing account balances and activity, as well as paying bills. Customers can also transfer funds between Frost accounts and financial institutions.

Frost Mobile works over the Internet via a phone’s Web browser rather than as a downloadable application. It is free to Frost customers who are registered for My Frost Online Banking, exclusive of any fees that mobile carriers charge for data services.

The mobile services are open to all consumers who sign up for My Frost Online Banking.

Consumers can access the service from any Internet-enabled mobile device at http://frostmobile.com.
Mr. Berman said that Frost continually strives to make it easy for its customers to do business with them. 

“Additionally, our research shows that many consumers see their mobile device as an extension of themselves,” Mr. Berman said. “Providing customers with Frost Mobile and the ability to access their accounts via their mobile device enables them to use the latest technology to check account balances, monitor account activity, transfer funds and pay bills.”

Frost claims its research showed the target demographic for mobile banking to be consumers between the ages of 21-40.

However, Mr. Berman said that Frost feels like the demographic will constantly change as more consumers start viewing their mobile devices as extensions of themselves.

According to Frost Bank, consumers are ready and want mobile banking.

“Customers want the freedom to securely access their accounts anywhere, anytime,” Mr. Berman said. “Frost Mobile is that solution.

“It’s easy to use, saves customers valuable time and enables them to leverage the latest technology to conduct their banking business,” he said.