Sri Lanka’s leading state bank, People’s Bank, has joined forces with SLT Mobitel, the pioneer in the telecommunications industry of Sri Lanka, to launch their latest innovation in banking services - the ‘People’s SMS Banking’ service.

The service was launched at an event held at the People’s Bank Head Office.

People’s Bank chief executive officer/general manager P V Pathirana, along with SLT Mobitel chairperson Leisha De Silva Chandrasena, SLT Mobitel chief executive officer Suren J Amarasekera and other directors and management of the two organisations were present.

Speaking at the event, Pathirana said that with the increasing technological development in banking and telecommunications, Sri Lanka is moving towards paperless banking, where forms and letters are fast becoming obsolete.

He said that, while providing customers the latest technology in banking, the People’s Bank is looking to provide banking services 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year and through this SMS Banking service to further provide a more efficient service to their customers.

Chairperson Leisha De Silva Chandrasena stated that in the current times, the public are quite vary of dealing with financial institutions, but as an honest, stable entity which is trusted by the public, People’s Bank was an easy choice for SLT Mobitel to partner in this project.

She also said that the bank’s islandwide network, coupled with the latest telecommunication technologies will help provide a more efficient service to the people of Sri Lanka.

At the event, the ‘People’s SMS Banking’ service was launched by two customers of People’s Bank, using Mobitel mobile phones.

Through an islandwide network of 660 branches and service centres and a wide variety of banking services designed to suit various needs, People’s Bank caters to a socially and culturally diverse customer base of over 11 million.

With this latest technological innovation, the bank envisions creating an even more efficient service to their customers, by taking convenience of banking to every persons fingertips in Sri Lanka.

People’s Bank have received many milestones over the years – which includes being named the Bank of the Year for 3 consecutive years since 2007 and the Best Service Brand at the People’s Choice Awards in 2008.