Tangerine adds biometrics to mobile banking app, Report

Tangerine Bank has relaunched its mobile app for iOS, adding secure instant messaging support and new biometric security features, the Toronto-based direct banking firm announced today.

“At Tangerine, we’re focused on our clients and their experience with us. Millions of Canadians are looking to their mobile devices to fulfil all of their banking needs. Tangerine has always been the mobile and internet leader in the Canadian financial space and we’re ready to change the game for Canadians. We have taken our award-winning 4.5-star rated app and made it even better,” explains Peter Aceto, President and CEO of Tangerine. “Learning from the feedback provided by our Clients, we have brought to Canadians years of research and the latest tested technologies and functionalities to provide a global, leading mobile banking experience that’s safe, secure and incredibly convenient”

Tangerine is the first Canadian financial institution to bring Secure Chat to mobile, following the launch of Secure Chat through their website in January. Since Clients enter a chat session once securely logged in through the app, they can get help from a live Associate to complete actions like changing an address or making a lump sum payment on their mortgage.

EyeVerify uses the Eyeprint ID technology for speedy Client identification within the new Mobile Banking App. VocalPassword, a development by Nuance, is a voice authentication technology that allows Clients to access their account by saying a simple phrase. These brand new biometric technologies, never before used by a Canadian financial institution, means that accessing your bank account is now just an eye-scan or quick phrase away.

“Creating a secure, simple, top-notch experience for our Clients is always our first priority when creating a new app.” said Charaka Kithulegoda, Chief Information Officer at Tangerine. “We’ve made the entire experience of using our Mobile Banking App simpler by bringing the seamless functionality of Secure Chat to mobile and allowing Clients to enter the app by scanning their eyes with Eyeprint ID or authenticating through voice with VocalPassword. Adding in context-aware quick menus has made it even easier for our Clients to perform everyday banking with a few swipes.”

Tangerine’s in-app Secure Chat feature uses Genesys® technology and operates on a customized platform that was built in partnership with IBM®. Clients can initiate a chat session, found under the “Contact Us” section, when they are already securely logged into the app, without going through any additional security screening steps.

Agencies/Canadajournal