Canadian direct bank Tangerine (formerly “ING Direct”) has announced that it will install biometric authentication security to its mobile banking services, becoming the first Canadian bank to integrate such technology. The bank’s mobile app will employ Touch ID fingerprint scanning, while a voice recognition service called Voice Authentication, developed by American software firm Nuance Communications, will launch later this year as an additional layer of security for the company’s Voice Banking service.
It’s not much of a surprise to see Tangerine pioneering the banking industry’s adoption of biometric technology, given the firm’s history: It started out as an online banking service in the 90s, and recently became the first banking service in the country to allow customers to deposit cheques via digital photo. Like many other large public-facing companies that are now adopting biotechnology, the company is positioning the move as an improvement in customer service.
In a press release, CEO Peter Aceto said, “We recognize that Canadians want more control over their banking experience, and our goal is to provide them with the ability to bank where they want, how they want and when they want.”
Touch ID authentication will be available on iPhone 5S devices using iOS 8, while Tangerine’s voice recognition services will be compatible with Apple devices running iOS 6 and higher.
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