Mashreqbank has launched a Voice Recognition Banking (VRB) service, the first of its kind which can respond to simple voice commands. This is the first time ever that such a remote banking service is launched in the Middle East.
Based on Interactive Voice Response (IVR) technology, the system can respond to simple spoken commands such as ‘cards,’ balance,’ ‘information, ‘apply,’ ‘yes’ and many more. “Simply, it takes away the need to repeatedly punch menu numbers on the telephone and makes the telebanking experience quicker and a lot more natural and enjoyable,” said Steven Pinto, head of Mashreqbank’s Retail Banking Group.
The voice recognition service is available in both English and Arabic and is initially available for managing a wide variety of credit cards functions. For security reasons, account and credit card numbers and password are input via the telephone keypad so that no one else can overhear or record these details.
Mindscape IT, financial Information Technology (IT) solutions provider in the Middle East, in association with the Ascent Computing Group, New York, implemented the system for Mashreqbank.
Founded in 1967, Mashreqbank is one of the largest private sector banks in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) with total assets of $6.44 billion in 2002. As well as being a leading retail bank, it also ranks among the most active in corporate banking, treasury, investment and correspondent banking. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
