Banco Popular launches ‘app’ for iPhone, iPod touch
Banco Popular staffers Rachid Molinary, Carolina Cestero, Antonio Duarte and Camille Burckhart offer details of the new 'app' for Apple iPhone and iPod touch devices.
Banco Popular announced Tuesday the launch of its new mobile banking application for the iPhone and iPod touch, which will be available to download for on the Apple App Store, starting Thursday (Apr. 26).
The “app” will allow customers access to the same features provided through its web-based application, but offers a more sophisticated experience, bank officers said during a news conference at Popular’s Hato Rey headquarters.
Aside from the features that customers are already familiar with, such as managing accounts and balances 24 hours 7 days a week, see account activity (including transactions made in the last 18 months), review e-bills, transfer funds between accounts, and schedule payments, the iOS-based “app” integrates new features that allow users to view and save payment receipts, personalize accounts and find ATMs and bank branches using GPS technology.
“Our team is constantly looking to develop technology platforms that not only help our customers, but provide more services in less time,” said Camille Burckhart, senior vice president of Popular’s technology management division. “With this new application, we offer our customers a sophisticated service that is available wherever they go.”
The application can be downloaded from the App Store, and is found by using the search term “Popular.” Later this year, possibly by summer, the bank will be launching the Android version of the application, she said.
“This application is fully native and was made by a group of Puerto Ricans who designed it based on the tastes and needs of current customers,” said Burckhart, noting that at present, 40 percent of the bank’s 375,000 online banking customers connect to the service via smartphones.
The majority of them use the Apple devices, which is why the bank opted to develop the ‘app’ based on the iOS platform, rather than based on a generic template, she said.
“We have been working on the design and programming for the ‘app’ for more than a year, and completing this phase of our work, which we know will have a positive impact on our customers, gives us great satisfaction. We hope our customers enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it,” said Burckhart.
The launch of the application is accompanied by a massive marketing campaign that begins Apr. 26, with an associated investment of $1 million.
