BBVA Compass enhanced its mobile banking capabilities by adding the Pay People with Popmoney service to its iPhone and Android apps, allowing customers to send money to anyone in the U.S. using just the recipient's email address or mobile phone number.
Previously available only through the online banking service, Pay People allows BBVA Compass customers to send money to friends, family and others using their mobile phones. Recipients are then notified — via email or text message — that they have been sent money and can deposit the payment directly into their accounts through their banks' Popmoney service or via a secure, easy-to-use website.
"Adding the Pay People service makes our mobile banking apps more useful for our customers," said Alex Carriles, director of self-service channels at BBVA Compass. "For example, if a customer wants to pay back a friend for picking up the tab at lunch, they can now settle up using Pay People before ever leaving the restaurant."
BBVA Compass' latest mobile banking upgrade also adds Mobile Deposit to its new e-Business Checking account, launched last week as part of the bank's efforts to serve micro-businesses. The app update allows micro-business owners to make deposits into their accounts by endorsing and snapping pictures of checks.
In addition, the bank's Android app now includes Picture Bill Pay, which allows customers to pay bills and add payees by taking pictures of paper bills. The feature was previously available only on the iPhone app.
"We're proud to say that we now offer one of the most feature-rich mobile banking offerings in the nation on our iPhone and Android apps, and one of the most extensive," Carriles said. He added that there are also apps for BlackBerry®, Kindle Fire™, iPad® and Windows Phone™.
The bank's mobile banking app allows customers to retrieve balances, review transactions, view check images, transfer funds, send money, deposit checks and manage bill payments. The free app also offers bilingual banking options.