Online bank Tangerine Wednesday unveiled new biometric technology that is says will revolutionize the way clients interact with its mobile banking app.
As the first Canadian bank to launch Voice Banking and Touch ID, Tangerine’s mobile app brings clients the ability to bank with their voice and use new fingerprint technology to log in with the touch of a finger for added security.
With Voice Banking users can interact with the app through a conversational interface that answers questions and provides information. Queries can be as simple as inquiring about account balances, to more complex questions and commands like how much was spent at a specific location, or instructions to send email money transfers or pay a bill.
Working with software provider Nuance Communications, Tangerine is the first bank in Canada to offer a voice-controlled mobile app. Voice Banking functionality will be available to clients with mobile devices running iOS 6 and above.
Touch ID uses fingerprint recognition technology to provide an added layer of security when logging into the bank’s app. Tangerine is the first Canadian bank to provide its clients with the ability to use their fingerprint when logging in, complementing the traditional password. Clients with iOS 8 enabled devices on iPhone 5S and above can use Touch ID as an easy and secure additional authentication factor.
Later this year Tangerine also plans to introduce Voice Authentication, a way for clients to use their voice as a password when logging into the app. This technology, also from Nuance, will require users to repeat a specific phrase to access their account information in addition to providing a password.
Tangerine operates independently as a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of Nova Scotia.