SINGAPORE — Bank customers can look forward to conducting some of their banking transactions through an instant messaging service and social media.

Citi Singapore yesterday announced the launch of Citi Bot, the bank’s new natural language chatbot on Facebook Messenger.

Singapore is the first market for the launch of the chatbot, which will be introduced progressively in the Asia Pacific region in the next few months, said the bank in a statement.

Mr Han Kwee Juan, CEO of Citibank Singapore, said: “As our customers become increasingly mobile, we are embracing a strategy that makes banking relevant, convenient and remarkable, integrating ourselves into key ecosystems in order to engage them where they are most digitally active.”

Chatbots are computer programmes designed to simulate conversation with human users. Citi’s chatbot is designed to engage customers in real-time banking experience, including providing customer account information.

“Our strategy is to be present where our customers live, work, and play. By connecting with them on Facebook Messenger, one of the most popular social platforms in Asia, we are doing just that,” added Mr Felimy Greene, customer franchise head for Citi Asia.

“We’re pleased to welcome Citi Bot to Messenger,” said Ms Kahina Van Dyke, director and head of financial services partnerships for Facebook.

“Banks, financial service and fintech firms are increasingly finding value in reaching their customers where they are already — with the 1.2 billion people who use Messenger every month.”

Some 600 Citi employees and customers will test the bank’s new chatbot before its commercial launch in the fourth quarter of the year.

The first phase will address account-specific enquiries, such as checking of account balances and transactions, providing credit card bill summaries, rewards and point balances, and answering frequently asked questions.

The second phase of the Citi chatbot will introduce new features such as card activation, ability to lock and unlock credit cards and transaction alerts for cards, among others.