Emirates NBD customers can now chat bank via WhatsApp as the bank introduces customised services via the WhatsApp Business Solution, a first in the region.

Enhancing the bank's award-winning suite of digital capabilities, Emirates NBD Chat Banking via WhatsApp, supported by Infobip, is an easy-to-use secure channel that allows customers to seamlessly carry out daily banking functions on the go. These functions include checking account balances, the last five transactions of account or credit cards, last credit card mini statement, temporarily blocking or unblocking cards, new cheque book requests, and foreign exchange rates.

All messages on Emirates NBD's verified WhatsApp Business account are encrypted, ensuring safety and security of customer information. Customers are encouraged to check for the green badge next to the Emirates NBD name in the chat window to ensure they only engage with the bank's verified WhatsApp Business account.

"We believe the new offering will complement our existing digital banking channels and offer security along with the simplicity and convenience of instant responses, 24/7 " said Abdulla Qassem, Group Chief Operating Officer, Emirates NBD. "As Emirates NBD forges ahead with its digitisation agenda, we look forward to progressively expanding our range of WhatsApp based services to deliver a unified, digital experience for our customers."

Suvo Sarkar, Senior Executive Vice President, Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management, Emirates NBD, said: "With customers increasingly turning to online and mobile banking services, Emirates NBDs' Chat Banking via WhatsApp solution builds on our commitment to make banking easy and intuitive. WhatsApp is a simple, reliable and private way to talk to anyone in the world, which will lend further convenience to banking with Emirates NBD."

Evans Munyuki, Senior Vice President, Chief Digital Officer, Emirates NBD said: "Emirates NBD is consistently innovating to find new ways to engage with our growing customer base whilst expanding our digital distribution network enabling our customers to find us using their channels of choice. We are excited about offering and rapidly expanding our WhatsApp services to further enable continuous, immediate and safe conversations with our customers."

To subscribe to this service, customers are requested to SMS 'WhatsApp' to 4456 using their registered mobile number or alternatively they can subscribe through Mobile or Online Banking.

Emirates NBD's digital transactions are rapidly growing year-on-year with over half of the bank's customers actively using mobile and online banking regularly. With close to a million and half followers on social media, Emirates NBD remains the only financial institution from the Middle East to claim a spot in the top 20 ranking in the 'Power 100 Social Media Rankings' compiled by The Financial Brand.

The bank's relentless efforts to drive multichannel transformation has received global recognition, with Emirates NBD being adjudged 'The Innovator' in the Middle East by Global Finance 2018 Innovators Awards, as well as 'Best Digital Bank-UAE', 'Best Integrated Consumer Banking Site-UAE', and 'Best Consumer Digital Bank-UAE' by Global Finance World's Best Consumer Digital Banks in the Middle East Awards 2018.