Press Releases

18.10.2017

'Leumi Keyboard' enables easy money transfers within the most widely-used messaging apps, such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and others.

Leumi is the first Israeli bank to enable money transfers outside of its own mobile app, through the installation of a custom money-transfer keyboard. 'Leumi Keyboard' enables money transfers via popular messaging and social networks apps, such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Instagram Messenger. 'Leumi Keyboard' serves, in fact, as an offshoot of the Leumi app, as it integrates as an additional keyboard (similar to the Emoji keyboard) to your phone. 'Leumi Keyboard' can be downloaded, free of charge, via the Leumi mobile app.

Bank Leumi has joined forces with Israeli start-up PAYKEY, which has won prestigious awards worldwide, in order to make 'Leumi Keyboard' accessible to users in a fresh, transparent and user-friendly manner. Up until now, all mobile money transfers required users to physically access a banking app or a dedicated payment app. Existing apps like Google Wallet do not currently support instant payments within other messaging apps, while WhatsApp’s initiative for launching a payment service has yet to be executed. 

Tamar Yassur, Head of Leumi's Digital Banking Division: “Collaboration with start-ups and Fintech companies is indispensable for survival and for retaining digital leadership in such a dynamic market. 'Leumi Keyboard' delivers a first-of-its-kind solution for an issue millions of people around the globe encounter on a daily basis - the ability to easily transfer money to someone during an instant messaging conversation."

How does Leumi Keyboard work?

1. Register for the service on the Leumi mobile app and define the 'Leumi Keyboard' in the device settings.

2. On a messaging app (like WhatsApp), switch to 'Leumi Keyboard' (as you would choose another language or Emoji keyboard), choose the contact you wish to transfer money to, the sum you wish to transfer, and confirm the transfer.