Consumers See Mobile Payments as Reason to Stay with or Change Banks

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Oct. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Fifty-three percent of consumers interested in a payment service from their mobile phone would consider changing banks if another bank offered the service, according to a survey conducted by an independent research firm for Obopay, the pioneer in mobile payments.  Nearly three-fourths (70%) of those responding indicated that if the service allowed them to get paid, send or receive money by mobile phone, it would be an incentive to remain at their banks.  The survey also revealed an important requirement for consumers, as the vast majority of respondents (71%) indicated that if transactions were "instant" – defined by most as "within seconds" – they would be more likely to use a payment service on a mobile phone.  Getting paid by mobile phone also ranked high in the survey, with 64% saying they would be interested in accepting either personal payments or payments for their businesses from a credit card, debit card, or electronic check from a mobile phone.

In addition to their preferences for a service offered from their bank, the survey also identified consumer interest in a number of use cases:

• 58 percent were interested in a service that would let them send and receive money from family and friends instantly.
• 56 percent were interested in sending or accepting payments using a simple text message in a similar manner to donations made in support of the Haitian Earthquake relief effort.
• 61 percent were more likely to use mobile phone payments if the service was provided by their banks

"Our research and market experience continues to show that people want mobile phone payment services  from their banks; however, there are a growing number of non-bank providers who are targeting this market and seek to displace the banks' traditional role in payments," said Obopay Senior Vice President Michael Diamond.  "Our latest research shows that offering this service would prove a competitive edge for banks—a way of both keeping existing customers and attracting new ones.  What we weren't surprised about was the fact that consumers have a very clear expectation that mobile payments must be instant.  The old ACH system of payments just isn't going to work in an ever increasing mobile world."

The research study was conducted by Toluna Survey and Poll Services, and copies of the full results are available by request at http://www2.obopay.com/fi_partners/fi_contact.php.

About Obopay

Founded in 2005, Obopay, Inc., offers mobile money services that transform any mobile phone into a convenient and easy way to send and receive money, get paid or pay small businesses, top-up accounts, buy via mobile and pay bills.  Obopay's mobile money services address the needs of consumers and businesses around the world by providing a service that delivers value, empowers lives and improves opportunity for merchants.  Obopay believes the power is in the network and has established partnerships that include Nokia, MasterCard, AT&T, Verizon, Essar, Yes Bank in India, Blackberry and Societe Generale.  The company's offering enables partner-branded mobile money services that financial services and mobile partners can implement quickly at low deployment cost.  Global headquarters are in Redwood City, CA with operations in India.

SOURCE Obopay, Inc.