Users can request weekly or monthly short messaging service (SMS) mini-statements that show the account balance and last five transactions conducted.

Customers can also request text message alerts to tell them when their balance falls below or rises above an agreed limit and get text notification when money is paid into or taken out of an account.

Huw Morgan, head of business banking, HSBC, says: "Many of our business banking customers like to have access to their accounts while they are on the move - text message banking is the natural next step."

Last year HSBC and its subsidiary first direct signed up to MoniLink, a mobile banking platform developed by IT services firm Morse and the Link Interchange Network, that lets customers check bank accounts and recent transactions and purchase air time from their hand sets.