H&R Block Emerald is letting its Prepaid MasterCard customers access their accounts using a mobile device.

The tax preparer tapped financial services technology company Monitise Americas to power text messaging alerts that inform cardholders on account balances and transaction status.

"H&R block issues these tax preparation cards and you get the refund via card rather than a check and get the tax refund sooner," said Lisa Stanton, CEO of Monitise Americas, Providence, RI.

"For many cardholders, the account serves as a primary deposit account and clients are using it over and over," she said. "We provide them convenient access to their balance and also setting and managing alerts."

H&R Block is one of the world's largest tax preparation companies. The company's Emerald Prepaid MasterCard is said to have marked the largest launch of a prepaid debit card in the industry. The Emerald Card is a low-cost way for customers to receive their tax refunds.

In addition to text message balance inquiry, the Emerald Card offers clients payroll direct deposit, connection to line of credit, access to a savings account, link to money transfer services and nationwide ATM access and point-of-sale purchasing wherever MasterCard debit cards are accepted.

"Initiating prepaid account balance inquiries on-the-go using text messaging may not represent traditional banking, but considering the ubiquitous nature of mobile phones in America, this functionality does provide greater access to accounts and an expanded customer base," Ms. Stanton said.

In addition to its relationship with H&R Block, Monitise has relationships with more than 30 financial institutions, offering their customers services such as balance inquiry, account transfers, SMS text alerts and bill pay via their mobile devices.

Other Montise customers are California Business Bank, First National Bank of LaGrange Commerce Bank of Arizona and Wedbush Bank in Los Angeles.

"Most of the consumers using the Emerald Card are those who have no other banking accounts, so it's an under-banked population and they then have less access to online account balance," Ms. Stanton said. "We are giving them access to their accounts on their terms.

"We are the glue that puts it together as our platform does the alert capabilities," she said. "Our mobile banking and payments platform mobilizes financial institutions to connect people to their finances."