Earlier this week, Santander released an updated SmartBank app becoming the first UK banking firm to deploy voice payment technology to enable customers to make transfers using voice.

The voice biometric technology allows customers to access accounts as well as advanced features such as making payments, report lost cards, set-up account alerts and get intelligent answers to banking questions.

The release is phase two of a coordinated effort by Santander to making banking easier and more seamless for customers. The technology, provided by Nuance Communications, includes tools to allow customers to understand their spending trends saving time having to scroll through transactions.

“Voice assistant complements our approach to intelligent technology developed and supported by the bank” said Sigga Sigurdardottir, Head of Customer and Innovation at Santander when the bank announced the deployment last spring. “The worlds of technology and banking continue to evolve at pace. We are excited to be the first UK high street bank to bring voice-assistant technology into the customer user experience.”

By leveraging investment in mobile banking app development, a growing number banking and financial services firms are taking steps to deliver a future banking experience, either through biometric authentication technologies or intelligent assistant applications. Companies such as ING Netherlands and Canada’s Tangerine Bank offer secure, personalized mobile app features, and Bank of America introduced banking virtual assistant, Erica, which it plans to release later this year.

Categories: Conversational Intelligence, Intelligent Assistants, Intelligent Authentication, Articles, Mobile + Location

Tags: Voice biometrics, biometrics, virtual assistant, Santander, UK