Citi introduces new way to charge expenses with mobile tech

Mobile technology takes on a new role as a tool for convenience – this time as a new way for credit card users to pay for their purchases. 

The world’s largest credit card issuer recently introduced Citi Mobile, a revolutionary service that allows Citi cardholders to charge their payments to their credit card without swiping their plastic, using instead their mobile phones.

Citi Mobile allows cardholders to order food and flowers for delivery to another location, reload prepaid phones for family and friends, buy prepaid Internet load, and pay utility bills and charge to their card without swiping the plastic. All they need is their mobile phones to authorize the transaction.

The innovative payment facility is a first for Citi across the globe, as well as a first in the local market. According to Mark Jones, Citi country business manager, the continued popularity of the text messaging service in the country has given them an opportunity to develop a service that would enhance convenience for their cardholders, in terms of paying for their expenses.

“It has always been Citi’s commitment to provide better service to our cardholders, so we continue to innovate utilizing the newest technology available. Using mobile technology to enhance service to our local cardholders is a natural step for us, as this technology is very close to Filipinos,” said Jones.

Another mobile-based service Citi introduced is Citi Alerts, which gives free up-to-date information to cardholders about their credit details through e-mail and text messages. Now with Citi Mobile, some 1.2 million Citi cardholders will benefit from another innovative feature that harnesses modern technology to empower its customers.   

 “With Citi Mobile, cardholders now have the power of their Citi card in their mobile phones, offering them more convenience in doing simple transactions like ordering food for delivery or paying for utility bills,” explained Jones.   

To start using Citi Mobile, cardholders have to enroll first, following these easy steps:

Step 1: Enroll by calling the 24-hour CitiPhone at 995-9999 in Metro Manila, 234-9999 in Metro Cebu and 1-800-10-995-9999 in other provinces.

Step 2: You will receive a text message to confirm your enrollment, which will contain your temporary Citi Mobile Personal Identification Number (PIN).

Step 3: Reply to change your temporary Citi Mobile PIN with your preferred Citi Mobile PIN, using six characters and a combination of letters and numbers.

Step 4: You will receive another text message to confirm your new Citi Mobile PIN and you’re ready to begin using Citi Mobile.

Once enrolled, Citi cardholders can start ordering food and flower deliveries from McDonald’s, Shakey’s and She Likes Flowers, buying prepaid Internet load from Blast and prepaid cellular phone load from Globe, Smart and Sun, and paying their postpaid Globe bill.

“With our large base of customers, we are looking at influencing market behavior so Filipinos will realize the convenience of charging day-to-day simple transactions to their Citi card using their mobile phones,” said Cecille Fonacier, Citi’s Consumer eBusiness director.

“As the service gains popularity, we will bring in more partners to give our customers more and more reasons to use Citi Mobile,” she added.

To urge cardholders to enroll, Citi will be giving away 100 mobile phones including the Nokia 6500 featuring dual-band 3G technology, a two-megapixel camera and one-gigabyte internal memory. To qualify for the raffle, cardholders must enroll until Aug. 31.