FORT WAYNE, Ind.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Allied Payment Network, a provider of online and mobile bill payment services to the financial industry, announced today that New Castle, Ind.-based Ameriana Bank ($446 million) is the latest bank to launch Allied’s Picture PayTM mobile bill pay solution, enabling its customers to pay any bill by taking a picture of the bill with their mobile device.
In an effort to simplify the bill pay process, Ameriana Bank integrated Picture Pay into its existing mobile banking app, increasing the level of convenience for accountholders with a solution that is also more cost-effective for the bank. Once a customer takes a picture of the bill with their smartphone, they simply enter the amount and payment date, and the bill is paid. Picture Pay’s technology reads the data from the customer’s bill, and then its built-in analytics confirm the biller and execute the payment process.
“At Ameriana Bank, our goal is to help make our customers’ lives easier, and Picture Pay does just that,” said Jerry Gassen, president and CEO of Ameriana Bank. “Today’s consumers expect convenience in how they bank. With Picture Pay, we’re not only able to enhance our customers’ ability to make bill payments, but we’re also offering a level of convenience that sets us apart from other institutions. By putting another great mobile banking tool in our customers’ hands, we’re gaining a distinct competitive edge – it’s that simple.”
Ameriana Bank’s mobile app is used by more than 20 percent of the bank’s personal checking accountholders and more than 10 percent of all deposit accountholders have a registered app. In addition to Picture Pay, Ameriana Bank’s mobile app enables customers to review account balances, view transaction history, deposit checks, place a hold on a lost or stolen debit card, and transfer money between accounts, among other capabilities.
“A traditional online bill pay offering is simply not enough to meet the evolving needs of today’s consumers,” said Ralph Marcuccilli, president of Allied Payment Network. “The biggest barrier to bill pay adoption has been the perceived inconvenience of setting up a payee online, but Picture Pay does that automatically for the user. Ameriana Bank’s customers simply snap a picture, enter the amount and data, and the bill is paid. Not only will this new offering increase customer satisfaction, but it will help drive mobile and bill pay adoption as well as generate additional revenue for the bank. A win-win for everyone.”
Picture Pay was developed in conjunction with Malauzai Software Inc., a provider of mobile banking SmartApps for community financial institutions, such as Ameriana Bank.
About Ameriana Bank
Ameriana Bancorp is a bank holding company. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Ameriana Bank, the company offers an extensive line of banking services and provides a range of investments and securities products through banking centers in the central Indiana area. Ameriana owns Ameriana Insurance Agency, a full-service insurance agency, and Ameriana Financial Services, which offers securities and insurance products through LPL Financial (Member FINRA/SIPC). For more information, visit www.ameriana.com.
About Allied Payment Network
Allied Payment Network is a visionary and innovative company that applies emerging bill pay technologies for the financial industry and its customers. The company was created to make the bill paying process easier and more convenient for the consumer, and more efficient and cost effective for financial institutions. With its solution, Picture PayTM, whose imaging software is powered by Mitek’s Mobile Photo Bill Pay technology, Allied has pioneered the first mobile point, shoot and bill pay application for smartphones. For additional information on how Picture Pay is enabling financial institutions to more successfully promote mobile bill pay to their customers and members, visit www.AlliedPayment.com.
