USAA to Debut Siri-Like Mobile Features By Early 2013
Is Siri-like functionality the next enhancement for mobile banking apps?
It is for USAA customers.
USAA, the 28th largest bank by deposits, is working on “doing something on voice” so that its customers can do banking functions like bill pay by speaking aloud the command, Neff Hudson, assistant vice president of emerging channels, tells Bank Innovation.
“We’re already playing in a pilot but probably won’t go into a full release until the end of this year or early next year,” Hudson says.
The measured rollout is meant to give USAA enough time to work out the kinks with the mobile virtual assistant technology. USAA said that the initial pilot participants pool from a limited group of members and employees.
“We need to make sure it’s functional,” says Hudson, adding that there’s a fine line between “stupid computer” and “gee, that’s cool.”
USAA’s move is ahead of the banking mobile app pack peers. Though an iPhone app by e*Trade Financial Corp. added in a voice control feature this spring, voice command in banking is in its infancy to date.
“People want to do everything on their mobile phones,” Hudson tells Bank Innovation. “The bar never gets lower.”
