U.S. Bank is now offering mobile banking to all its online customers.

Consumers and small business customers will be able to check balances, obtain transaction history, transfer money and find a U.S. Bank branch or ATM near them via their mobile device.

The service is free, although consumers may be charged access fees by their carrier, depending on the individual data plan.

The new features complement existing email and paging options that alert customers to low-balance thresholds and deposits or withdrawals above key dollar amounts that are set by the user.

Future enhancements to these core functions will include the ability to pay bills via U.S. Bank Internet Bill Pay and the introduction of text-message-based alerts and services. No additional enrollment is required for existing Internet banking customers.

Teens, university students, recent graduates and frequent business travelers place significant value on the convenience and overall customer experience provided by mobile devices.

U.S. Bank Mobile Banking is available with any major mobile phone carrier, as long as the customer has access to the Internet.

The custom U.S. Bank mobile banking page at http://m.usbank.com lets customers navigate through core banking functions or contact U.S. Bank's 24-hour banking center by phone or email.

Consumers enter their personal ID and password, which is identical to their Internet banking account.

The company claims that mobile banking offers the same level of security as Internet banking.

U.S. Bancorp, with $247 billion in assets, is the parent company of U.S. Bank, the sixth-largest commercial bank nationwide.

The company operates 2,542 banking offices and 4,895 ATMs, and provides banking, brokerage, insurance, investment, mortgage, trust and payment services products to consumers, businesses and institutions.