The app allows customers to check their account balances, recent transactions and manage their money on the move using iPhone. The new app is one of a number of helpful initiatives the Bank is developing to bring customers closer to their finances on a 24/7 basis.

Today's launch re-enforces NatWest's commitment to offer our customers more advanced mobile banking services. Recent research¹ showed that consumers are interested in more sophisticated mobile banking facilities, with a quarter being interested in money transfers between bank accounts, a further quarter being interested in receiving fraud alerts and 24% said they would like to pay in cheques without visiting a branch.

NatWest is also launching a new, free Quick Statement Text on Demand service today. Customers can already receive weekly balance and threshold text alerts but can now request free updates through the Quick Statement Text on Demand service. This means that customers who are registered for standard text alerts (also free of charge) can text the word 'mini' to 82628 from their mobile phone, to receive an up to date mini-statement sent directly back to their phone. NatWest customers can register for text alerts at natwest.com/mobile

Tim France-Massey, Head of NatWest's Mobile team, commented: "In the current climate, NatWest is more committed than ever to delivering innovative solutions to help customers connect with their finances. Mobile phones are becoming an increasingly popular means of money management, and the iPhone provides us with a really cutting edge technology platform to support our customers' needs."

"NatWest research*² shows that customers are becoming increasingly aware of their account balance and the way in which they control this. Our aim is to offer customers choice and flexibility in terms of how and when they bank with us, and make it easy for them to manage their money wherever they are. The app and the Text on Demand servvice we're launching today, demonstrate our commitment to providing helpful banking services on a 24/7 basis."

¹ According to YouGov research carried out for NatWest and Monitise between 16-19 October 2009, with a sample size of 1962
² 78% of respondents said that they knew what the balance of their account was at the time of asking and 24% of respondents said they were more aware of their account balance than they were before the economic downturn