This forms a vital part of the bank's broader customer channel strategy in support of its unparalleled customer service proposition. Metro Bank's business model is underpinned by a 'convenience with quality' ethos, which pledges to deliver the ultimate customer experience through exceptional service delivery. The bank will deploy ARC Mobile towards the end of the year.

In developed banking markets, the increase in smart phone adoption coupled with today's technology savvy consumer is driving the need for banks to offer superior mobile banking services. In addition, there is a whole range of services which are either better or uniquely served through a handset, like real-time fraud alerts. With ARC Mobile, a user friendly and highly secure multi-mobile channel solution, Metro Bank can deliver a larger set of convenient products and services including alerts, interactive enquiries and payments, enabling customers to access the bank via a secure mobile channel whenever and however they choose.

Aisling Kane, Chief Operations Officer, Metro Bank, said: "ARC Mobile will give us a flexible, secure mobile solution so we can extend our services and put Metro Bank securely and conveniently in the pocket of each and every customer. It will allow us to build on our market differentiation through exemplary simple self-service and exciting new areas including payments. Temenos' support of the latest range of Smartphone handsets was a key factor in our decision to select ARC Mobile; we need a solution that will evolve with the mobile phone market in order to fully utilise this channel and deliver best in class services for our customers today, tomorrow and in the future."

ARC Mobile now offers full support for all Smartphone platforms, including WindowsPhone7, iPhone, Android and Java platforms including BlackBerry.

Phil Sorrell, Director of Mobile Banking for Temenos, added "Metro Bank's selection of ARC Mobile illustrates that the platform's versatile Smartphone support is as big a requirement in the developed world to address consumer demand for convenience and versatility, as those in the emerging markets who value its simplicity and security. ARC Mobile now has major presence on four continents and our focus on the needs of our clients and their customers has enabled us to create a market leading product that allows banks to differentiate themselves via the mobile channel wherever they are."

Koen Van den Brande, Product Director, Front Office, Temenos concluded: "The extension of the ARC Mobile platform to include support for all Smartphone platforms including iPhone, Android and Windows Phone 7 enables us to offer a unique and truly modern solution with which to compete successfully around the world, including in highly sophisticated markets, as illustrated by the recent Metro Bank deal. A secure mobile channel with exceptional user experience is increasingly important for banks that seek to offer differentiated customer service and is a key part of the Temenos' front office strategy"