Washington Mutual, Inc. (NYSE:WM), following in the footsteps of other banks, announced today that it has launched mobile banking capabilities, delivering account information — anytime, anywhere wireless service is available, providing customers the ability to view real-time account balances, view and search real-time transaction history and locate a nearby branch/ATM.

“We have been working very hard to deliver to our customers a simpler and more enjoyable banking experience, and we believe these added mobile banking features deliver on that brand promise,” said Steve Rotella, WaMu’s President and Chief Operating Officer.

According to a study conducted earlier this year by Opinion Research, 21% of consumers ages 18-34 use their cellphones for banking transactions, compared with about 10% of the general population. These numbers, particularly for younger consumers, are expected to grow significantly.