ATB Financial, an Alberta-based bank, has reached a deal with Telus Corp. that will allow customers to conduct financial transactions on their mobile phones.

Telus is launching a 90-day pilot project to test the service, which will then be made available to all ATB customers. Users will be able to check their account balances, view recent transactions, or transfer funds using wireless messaging technology.

“With over 20 million mobile subscribers in Canada, time-pressed consumers are quickly adopting the mobile device as yet another transaction channel to help manage their busy lifestyles,” commented Telus’ vice president of financial services, Ismail Pishori. “In this competitive market, successful financial institutions need to go that extra mile to retain existing customers and attract new ones by providing convenient, reliable and easy access to their services. At TELUS, we are excited to be working with ATB Financial to help them raise the bar in the innovative ways they work with their customers.”