Doha, Qatar, 13 November 2006: Entering a new era of banking technology to better and quicker serve its customers, the International Bank of Qatar (IBQ) introduces SMS (short messaging service) Banking Service to all its customers. The service, which has taken effect, is available in both Arabic and English languages enabling customers to perform basic banking transactions by exchange of SMS using their mobile phones. 

In IBQ's new SMS Banking Service, "hello" and "ask" allow for a 2-way communication between the customer and the bank. Not only will customers receive regular alerts "hello" on their accounts and credit cards when transactions are passed or approved or their balances change, but they can also "ask" for updates and information whenever and wherever they are in the world simply by entering a simple three letter SMS code signifying the information they require and sending it to "2700" both within Qatar or abroad. This service has been introduced in cooperation with Qatar Telecommunications (Qtel) using their highly secured GSM data network, which has been designed to allow for numerous banking commands.

The SMS Banking Service is just part of IBQ's newly launched 24/7 Phone Banking Package. Our Contact Center with highly trained agents who have dual language capabilities now gives our customers the opportunity to speak to an IBQ representative whenever they need to anytime night or day. With the availability of being able to receive (hello) and pull (ask) account data using SMS, IBQ is consistently facilitating its' customers' banking needs by allowing quick, secure and easy access to an individual's banking information. This strategic addition to IBQ's extensive portfolio of customer tailored services maintains IBQ's position as the revolutionary in Qatar's banking industry by advancing perpetually beyond the limits set by conventional banking techniques.

"At IBQ we pride ourselves in how we serve our customers and how accessible we are. We are increasing our branch network at the rate of one new branch a month, we provide morning and evening opening times at all our branches and now we bring you the implementation of another convenient innovation - SMS banking. We're thinking outside the box, so you can conduct your banking with IBQ wherever and whenever you want. With our suite of phone banking services you have convenient 24-hour access, and wherever there is a GSM network you will be kept in touch with what is going on with your IBQ account. You no longer need to wait for the bank to be open, all you need is access to a phone," said Michael H. Williams, General Manager of IBQ on the new service which has positioned IBQ in the forefront of sophisticated banking technology.

To ensure that all SMS commands "hello and ask" are highly secure, IBQ has used the latest levels of security in the introduction of this service. In addition IBQ is working on allowing customers to make payment instructions using their SMS Banking Service which will in corporate the input of an encrypted pin number as part of the authentication process. IBQ's new SMS Banking service is free to all its' customers. 

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About International Bank of Qatar (IBQ)
IBQ, previously known as the Grindlays Qatar Bank is one of the oldest Bank's in Qatar and celebrates 50 years of banking in 2006. Previously, it was a member of the ANZ Grindlays banking group. The Standard Chartered group acquired the bank in 2000 and in 2003 sold its % stake to local shareholders, which made the bank fully locally owned and independently managed.

In 2004, National Bank of Kuwait acquired 20% stake in the Grindlays Qatar Bank, and assumed management responsibility. At the same time the name was changed to the International Bank of Qatar.

Released on behalf of the International Bank of Qatar by Hill & Knowlton - for further information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Samar Atassi
Head of Corporate Communications
International Bank of Qatar
Tel: +974 447 3700
Email: atassis@ibq.com.qa
 
Nardine Gerges
Hill & Knowlton, Qatar
Tel: +974 413 1260
Mob: +974 5540721
Email: nardine@hillandknowlton.com.bh

© Press Release 2006