BIG created the first Amazon Alexa skill specifically designed to allow credit union members to perform transaction-based functions in 2017. Today over 600,000 members have the ability to perform voice banking using their credit union’s certified Alexa skill and 18 additional credit unions have signed on for the solution. Members can transfer between accounts, make loan payments, and access balances and account histories for checking, savings, and loans. It also offers member engagement capabilities, such as educational audio clips on security and financial literacy. All of this is done using voice commands secured by a single sign-on and integrated to Connect’s digital banking platform. The transaction options, accessible by a custom Amazon Alexa skill built for each credit union, will provide members full access to their credit union accounts using FIVE’s intuitive voice user interface.

The Connect FSS clients implementing the FIVE platform are One Nevada Credit Union, headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada; Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union, based in Knoxville, Tennessee; and Northrop Grumman Federal Credit Union, based in Gardena, California.

“Because of BIG’s longstanding experience in the credit union industry, we understand how important it is for credit unions to deliver the best possible member experience,” explained BIG CEO and co-founder John Best. “As credit unions evolve to provide the technology solutions members value and expect, it becomes more challenging to retain that personal touch. At the outset of each project, we focus on making sure the credit union’s unique personality is evident to their members in every interaction. The objective is to optimize the member experience and enable credit unions to expand their unique branding across voice interactions.”

“At Connect, we recognize that voice-activated activities through smart devices and digital assistants is a convenience factor that consumers are using to conduct their everyday activities. We see voice-activated banking as an important next step in a truly mobile and frictionless banking experience, “said Grant Parry, President and CEO, of Connect Financial Software Solutions.

BIG’s FIVE platform currently supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice services but is extensible to allow financial institutions to easily expand to future voice-based products. As technology evolves, FIVE positions financial institutions to rapidly add new capabilities and additional voice services.