14 DAY TRIAL // Verizon Wireless and Firethorn, a Qualcomm company specialized in mobile banking and payments solutions, announced that customers of major financial institutions in the U.S., including Wachovia, SunTrust, FirstBank, and BancorpSouth, can access their accounts from their mobile. The mobile banking solution powered by Firethorn allows Verizon Wireless customers to manage their finances while on-the-go, enabling them to check bank account balances, transfer funds between accounts within the same bank, and review and pay bills that are already set up through the financial institution's online account service.
"After announcing our relationship with Firethorn two months ago, we're making mobile banking a reality for our customers," said Jim Straight, Verizon's senior vice president of consumer products. "And whether our customers prefer to bank at Wachovia, SunTrust, FirstBank or BancorpSouth, they can now do so wherever they go because Firethorn and their financial institution partners provide a secure, easy-to-use and flexible mobile banking application that delivers a superior customer experience."
The Firethorn application is secure and utilizes both PIN and device lock-out capabilities, which are in addition to the security that is already incorporated by the financial institution. As another layer of security, customers will need to register with their financial institution's online banking service in order to use mobile banking.
"Viewing balances, making transfers and paying bills on-the-go is an exciting first step for millions of Verizon Wireless customers. Together with Verizon Wireless and our financial partners, we are helping to define the market for mobile financial services," said Tripp Rackley, CEO of Firethorn. Financial institutions that have joined the Firethorn network include Wachovia, SunTrust Bank, Regions Financial, BancorpSouth, Synovus, FirstBank, Arvest Bank, and America First Credit Union.
The Firethorn application is currently available on several phones from Verizon Wireless, including the Chocolate, enV, X8700, VX8600, VX9400 by LG, and the Samsung SCH-a950, with support for new devices to be added in the coming months. Users can download the Firethorn application for free from Verizon Wireless' Get It Now virtual store.