Sunday, 12 April 2015

Customers Bank Revolutionizes Effortless Banking With A Fee-Free Mobile Bank

In a first, Customers Bank, a subsidiary of Customers Bancorp. Inc., announced the first-phase launch of it’s branchless, purely mobile and tablet based banking platform, BankMobile. Launched officially in a press event held on January 14th at The Harvard Club New York, BankMobile is also the first ‘fee-free’, fully functional banking app.

Speaking at the event, Lavleen Sidhu, Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer, BankMobile said, “We are thrilled to officially launch BankMobile.” She further asserted, “We are here to revolutionise banking, to help those who have often been victimised by the industry through excessive fees and we will always be a bank built by, and for, the people.”

True to its motto, BankMobile waives off any additional fee applicable on traditional banking services. Loans are charged, but the rates are substantially lower than market standards—thanks to its innovative branch-free structure that levies lower operating costs. Moreover, to further grant financial cognizance to its consumers, BankMobile also offers access to a personal banker and free financial counsel. 

BankMobile sports the following three features for current use: free checking account, savings account and unsecured line of credit of up to $5,000. However, the bank will continue working toward their core philosophy of delivering economical and effortless banking solutions. The latest item on their agenda is the app’s second phase, which is due to release shortly.

Phase two of BankMobile is expected to include text and video customer service chats, pre-approved auto loans and the ability to search and buy cars nearby.

BankMobile further entails the following unique propositions, which Director Bhanu Choudhrie, along with all those at Customers Bank, hope would transform the banking industry and make it more customer-centric:

• Banking experience, which fits the palm of the hand along with free financial advices from professionals.

• High rates of interest on saving accounts that are at least 0.25% higher than those offered by the four largest banks in the United States.

• Access to a nationwide network of 55,000 fee-free ATMs, and reimburse the customers the cost of ATM surcharges.

• Fee-Free banking and a freedom from overdraft fees.    

Tuesday, 7 April 2015

Nira Alpina: A luxury retreat in the Alps

For all those who love snow-capped peaks, the unique location of the premium Ski-in & Ski-out resort, Nira Alpina, is just perfect. Situated in the foothills of Mt. Corvatsch in the surreal Engadine, Nira Alpina promises a breath-taking view of the Alps and a sparkling Silvaplana Lake at 1870 m. of altitude.

A 70-room timber and glass low-rise, the hotel’s simplistic yet modish façade flawlessly blends in with the pristine surrounds. The alpine-esque interiors are encrusted with timber and Italian stone, effortlessly spelling out comfort and style. The terraced construction crafted by Architect Guido Tschvor presents a luxurious Alpine resort, which allows each of its rooms to sport a balcony or a terrace overlooking an arresting vista. So whether you love waking up to a spectacular morning view of sun-bathed snow peaks, or witnessing a stunning twilight when lights go on all over the valley, your stay at Nira Alpina has a lot to offer.

The Nira Alpine hotel is connected to the Corvatsch cable car station via a private walkway, offering direct passage from pillow to peak. Other activities here include polo, cross-country skiing, and an arduous trek for adventure lovers.

There is a bouquet of options for dining at the hotel. Featuring three in-house restaurants—one of which sports an alfresco setting—along with a dedicated bakery, you can tuck in traditional Italian fare or relish gourmet dishes from around the world. The hotel is also home to various wellness and R&R facilities:  5 treatment rooms, sauna, a spacious steam bath, Swiss spa with all the modern paraphernalia, Arabian-style Rasul bath, whirlpool, state of the art gym facility, and rooms to relax, where you can shrug off the day’s fatigue. Thus, within the cossetting confines, winter or summer, you will find plenty of activities to keep yourself entertained—their warm and welcoming ambiance is of course complimentary.  

Nira Alpina, part of Nira Hotels, is a subsidiary of Shanti Hospitality, the hospitality wing of C&C Alpha Group which is a London based private equity firm with Bhanu Choudhrie as the Executive Director. The company has varied interests in hospitality, aviation, healthcare and Real Estate utilities across the world.

Monday, 23 March 2015

BankMobile: America’s First and Only No Fee Mobile Bank

Customers Bank (NYSE:CUBI), the banking subsidiary of Customers Bancorp, Inc. officially launched the first phase of its free mobile and tablet banking platform, BankMobile. Established in 2014, BankMobile is an independent operating digital banking division of Customers Bank, a subsidiary of holding company Customers Bancorp, Inc. based in Wyomissing, Pa. Customers Bank also has notable Directorships including Bhanu Choudhrie, who is also a Director at C&C Alpha Group, a London based private equity firm.

Introduced in a press conference held at The Harvard Press Club of New York on January 14th 2015, the phase one announced the following three features for use—free checking account, savings account and an unsecured line of credit of up to $ 5,000 depending on the credit score of the individual. 

Announced at the Analyst Day of Customers Bank last year, the launch of BankMobile is touted to be a landmark event in the banking industry. With a second phase, which is proposed to begin in next 60 to 90 days, the app will feature text and video customer service chats, preapproved auto loans and the ability to search and buy cars nearby. 

A bank designed with a focus on tangible lifestyle benefits, such as smartphone-supported mobility, ease of access, and financial confidence, it certainly is one progressive and youthful bank. Conceived with an aim to disrupt the current banking experience to make it more effortless, enjoyable and financially empowering, BankMobile is the first bank to offer all traditional banking services online.

Speaking about BankMobile, Mr Jay Sidhu, CEO of Customers Bank and BankMobile said, “There’s a once in a 100-kind of change taking place in banking right now. BankMobile is the cool, trendy, young bank.” 

Upon the launch, the banking app offers the following exclusive features: 

A branch experience that fits the palm of hand along with free financial advices from the professionals.

High rates on saving accounts that are at least 0.25% higher than those offered by the four largest 
        banks in the United States.
An access to 55,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide, and reimburse the customers the cost of ATM  
        surcharges.
Multi-layered security checks to protect accounts.

Access to a line of credit up to $5,000, depending on the credit score of the individual.

Fee-Free banking and a freedom from overdraft fees.

Friday, 13 March 2015

BankMobile: A New High In Digital Banking

BankMobile, an independent digital banking division of Customers Bank announced its official phase one launch on 14th January 2015. Customers Bank (NYSE:CUBI) is a community-based, full-service banking subsidiary of Customers Bancorp. Inc. that provides a complete range of banking services to all small and medium-sized businesses, professionals, individuals and families through offices based in Pennsylvania, New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Jersey.

Launched at a press conference organised at The Harvard Club of New York, the first phase of BankMobile sets forth the following three features for current use-- free checking account, savings account and unsecured line of credit of up to $5,000 based on the credit score of the individual.

The second phase, anticipated to roll out in the following 60 to 90 days, will also introduce a set of prominent features like text and video customer service chats, pre-approved auto loans and the ability to search and buy cars nearby.

Exalted at the launch, Ms Luvleen Sidhu, Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer, BankMobile, said “We are thrilled to officially launch BankMobile. We are here to revolutionize banking, to help those who have often been victimized by the industry through excessive fees and we will always be a bank built by, and for, the people.”

All geared up to infuse a new bit of innovation into the banking sector, the Customer Bank’s mobile app proposes the following unique propositions:
  • A branch experience that fits the pocket facility, coupled with free financial tips from the experts.
  • High rates on saving accounts that are at least 0.25% higher than those offered by the four largest banks in the United States.
  • An access to 55,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide, promising to reimburse the cost of ATM surcharges.
  • Access to a line of credit up to $5,000, depending on the credit score of the individual.
  • Checking, saving and line of credit-- all in one place.
  • Negligible interest on the loans.
  • Multi-layered security checks to protect the account.

Being a bank that is committed to fostering customer loyalty, Customers Bank has notable directorships, including Bhanu Choudhrie, who is also a Director at C&C Alpha Group, a London based private equity firm.

Thursday, 5 March 2015

Experience Branchless Banking with BankMobile

Just a few years back, mobile banking seemed unimaginable. Today, it is a must-have for every smartphone user. While not all banks can branch out across their client spectrum, smartphone users can carry a branch in their pocket at all times.

As mobile banking continues to evolve and change the retail-banking landscape, Customers Bank (NYSE:CUBI) officially launched phase one of BankMobile, its much anticipated free mobile and tablet banking platform. Customers Bank has notable Directorships like Mr Bhanu Choudhrie who is also a Director of C&C Alpha Group, a London-based private equity firm.

First announced during the analyst day of the bank on 14 May last year, ‘Customers’ rolled out the following three features with its first phase--free checking account, savings account and unsecured line of credit of up to $5,000.

Talking about the mobile app during its launch, Mr Jay Sidhu, CEO, Customers Bank and BankMobile, said, “We are here to change this [stalled innovation in banking industry] and bring banking to the 21st century. We will ensure that our customers feel involved in the progress of this bank and are offering them a truly enjoyable banking experience—different from anything they have experienced before”.

In the next phase, which is proposed to begin in 60 to 90 days, the app will feature text and video customer service chats, pre approved auto loans and the ability to search and buy cars online. With a goal to open 25,000 new accounts this year, the bank also expects to open 250,000 accounts over a period of five-years.

Being the first bank to offer all traditional banking services online, BankMobile will give access to the following features:
  • A branch experience which fits the palm of hand along with free financial advices from the professionals.
  • High rates on saving accounts that are at least 0.25% higher than those offered by the four largest banks in the United States.
  • An access to 55,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide, and reimburse the customers the cost of ATM surcharges.
  • Multi-layered security checks to protect accounts.
  • Access to a line of credit up to $5,000, depending on the credit score of the individual.
  • Fee-Free banking and a freedom from overdraft fees.

Friday, 20 February 2015

BankMobile: Start of a Banking Revolution

Customers Bank (NYSE:CUBI), the banking business subsidiary of Customers Bancorp, Inc. announced the official phase one launch of its full-service mobile app, BankMobile. The bank and its executives introduced what is being seen as a revolutionary banking app in a press conference held at The Harvard Club of New York on 14th January, 2015.  Customers Bank has Directorships including Bhanu Choudhrie, also a Director of C&C Alpha Group a London based private equity firm.

The first phase, which is set to bring forth three major features--free checking accounts, savings account, and unsecured line of credit of up to $5,000--will be followed by a second phase that shall begin in 60 to 90 days henceforth. Announced on 14th May 2014, the analyst day of the bank, its beta phase has been much anticipated for all the unique propositions it will offer.

The mobile app enables its customers to take pictures of their checks and pay bills. BankMobile also allows its users to transfer money to any bank by only using their email address or phone number, while enabling them to keep a tab on their account balance without having to log in every single time.

The second phase, which is expected to roll out soon, will also feature text and video customer service chats, preapproved auto loans and the ability to search and buy cars nearby.  Putting any security concerns to rest, the mobile app follows multi-layered checks to protect accounts during a transaction. The app, which connects to the Apple Pay mobile-payment system, can be easily downloaded with an auto-population system that automatically updates all the information required to open an account.

Being the first bank that offers all traditional banking services online, the mobile app will offer the following exclusive services:


  • Bank in the pocket facility, coupled with free financial tips from experts.
  • High rates on saving accounts, which are at least 0.25% higher than those offered by the four largest banks in the United States.
  • Access to 55,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide, promising to reimburse its customers the cost of ATM surcharges.
  • Access to a line of credit up to $5,000.
  • The low operational costs allow the bank app to go fee-free.
  • Checking, saving and line of credit all in one place.
  • Negligible interest on loans

Saturday, 14 February 2015

Bank Mobile: Disrupting the Current Banking Experience

Customers Bank, the banking subsidiary of Customers Bancorp Inc - of which Bhanu Choudhrie is a director - officially launched the much anticipated phase one of its fee-free mobile and tablet banking platform, BankMobile. Commemorating this revolutionary event on 14 January 2015, customers and Bankmobile’s executives hosted a press conference at The Harvard Club of New York.

Thrilled at the launch, Luvleen Sidhu, Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer, Bank Mobile, said, “We are here to revolutionize banking, to help those who have often been victimised by the industry through excessive fees and we will always be a bank built by, and for, the people.”

Identifying the need to disrupt the current banking experience to make it more effortless and financially empowering, BankMobile introduced a no-fee structure and a branchless bank facility that fits in the palm of one’s hand. Being the first bank to offer all traditional banking services online, BankMobile announced the use of following features for its first phase- a free checking account, savings account and unsecured line of credit of up to $5,000 depending on the credit score of the individual.

Followed by the first, the second phase is proposed to begin in 60 to 90 days and is expected to feature text and video customer service chats, preapproved auto loans and the ability to search and buy cars nearby, truly making the mobile app, in the words of CEO Mr Jay Sidhu “an enjoyable banking experience, different from anything they (customers) have experienced before.”

Upon its launch, the mobile app also proposes the following unique propositions:
  • A banking experience that fits the pocket facility while enabling customers with access to free financial tips from the experts.
  • High rates on saving accounts which will at least be 0.25% higher than those offered by the four largest banks in the United States.
  • Low operational costs and low-rate interest loans.
  • BankMobile offers its users access to 55,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide, and also reimburses them the cost of ATM surcharges.
  • Allows a line of credit up to $5,000.
  • A multi-layered security check through all transactions, thereby mitigating any security risks.
  • Ease in depositing and paying bills. BankMobile also allows users to transfer money to anyone with any bank via their email address or phone number, and allows users to check their balance without logging in every single time