KUALA LUMPUR: Internet banking customers of AmBank can now choose to bank anywhere they like, with AmBank’s latest mobile phone banking solution, the AmGenie.
The multi-channel solution allows users to access their bank accounts via three different methods.
Users can access the AmGenie via a web browser, or download the purpose-designed PRO application or the SMS application into the mobile phone.
The platforms have been designed to cater for up to 90% of the mobile phones in the market and are not dependent on any particular telco service. 
According to AmBank Bhd managing director of retail banking Datuk Mohamad Azmi Mahmood, the multi-channel solution is the first such service in Malaysia.
“Our target is to have 20,000 subscribers in three months,” he said.
He added that AmBank has an existing mobile banking solution with about 80,000 subscribers, but the AmGenie is a step-up as the earlier version is telco dependent and customers have to remember the codes in order to transact. The AmGenie uses a menu-driven system.
The new mobile banking offering is also different as it is linked to the AmOnline Internet banking service. The AmGenie uses the same user ID and password used for AmOnline and users can access all accounts as long as they are linked to AmOnline.
There are 140,000 AmOnline users while AmBank has three million customers, said Azmi.
Transactions that users can make vary depending on the channel they use but the range of services includes balance enquiry, transaction history, funds transfer, Interbank GIRO and bill payment.
Besides banking services, the AmGenie PRO also lets you check summons, monitor the stock exchange and make prayer time enquiries.
The AmGenie’s underlying security includes phone verifications, password and ID access with 256-bit SSL encryption. Usage is free for now, but standard banking transactional and mobile service provider fees apply.