Citi has teamed with Obopay to launch a pilot of a new mobile person-to-person money transfer service to new and existing Citibank customers.

Users will be able to send money from their mobile phone via SMS text messaging, the Citi Obopay phone application or their phone’s web browser. Customers can send and receive money needing only the mobile phone numbers of friends and family members. The Citi Obopay mobile payment service will be offered to all Citibank customers in the US, with a focus on Boston, Chicago, Maryland, Philadelphia, and New Jersey. Citibank customers participating in the pilot program can activate and connect the mobile service to their Citibank checking account or setup up a new mobile payment account online on the bank’s website at citi.obopay.com. A person that has received money through the service can withdraw funds using his/her Citibank debit card.

Citi and Obopay first joined forces in 2007 when Citi became an equity investor in Obopay and launched a consumer trial with Citi customers in selected US markets.