By using the new Mobile Banking Text service, customers can use their mobile phone to get credit card account information, including balance, payments and transactions, within seconds by simply texting to a dedicated mobile short-code number - 83838.

Ian Craig, Sales, Service and Operations executive for Bank of America Europe Card Services, which operates the MBNA brand, said: "Our customers' needs and expectations are changing - they want greater control and choice in managing their finances, and they want to do so in a way that fits their lifestyles.

"Newer technology, including mobile phone functionality, SMS, the Internet and voice recognition systems are transforming the way our customers expect us to interact with them. The Mobile Banking Text service is one of a number of exciting new improvements we will be making to our services.

"With this service, we are able to provide our customers with another way to bank that is simple, straightforward and puts their credit card information at their fingertips whenever they need it."

The Mobile Banking Text service is available across the full range of credit cards managed by MBNA, which includes more than five million customers.

To use the service, customers with mobile phone numbers registered to their accounts can simply send Bal, Trans or Bill to 83838 for the latest information on their accounts.

The service is provided at no charge to customers (although the request may incur a standard text message charge in accordance with the customer's mobile network) and will work with any SMS-enabled UK mobile phone operated from within the UK.