Santander customers in the UK can now make payments using their voices as part of a new range of services.
Users of the bank’s iOS SmartBank app are in the pilot group which is the second phase of Santander’s voice-controlled banking initiative.
The app allows customers to vocally instruct the bank to pay someone at a certain time.
It can also be used to report a lost card and ask about spending trends and account balances.
The bank said: “Voice assistant banking can also be a useful tool for vulnerable customers who prefer to bank from home and find speaking easier than typing or using online banking.”
Head of technology innovation at Santander, Ed Metzger, said the appetite for simple, intuitive banking services has grown significantly in recent years.
He said: “This technology has the potential to become an integral part of the future banking experience, playing a transformational role in the industry and redefining how customers manage their money.”
A recent report found that UK investment in the financial tech sector dropped a massive 33.7 per cent in 2016 despite increasing 11 per cent globally amid Brexit fears.