NATIONWIDE Building Society is testing a text service which allows account holders to check their details through their mobile phone.

Members who have a Nationwide FlexAccount are being invited to take part in the pilot.

They can choose to receive either a monthly or a weekly text alert allowing them to view their account balances and a mini-statement showing their last five transactions.

Nationwide, which employs about 2,000 people in Swindon and has its headquarters in Pipers Way, has more than three million FlexAccount holders. It is thought four in five adults own a mobile phone.

For people who have a joint account with Nationwide both partners can opt to receive the text alerts.

Nationwide's retail operations director Jim Willens said: "We have found that our members are very interested in this new service as it is free, convenient and saves them time."