Islami Bank's CellFin app adds fully voice-driven service

Islami Bank has launched the country’s first artificial-intelligence-based voice assistant CellFin Echo, inside the CellFin app.

It is a fully voice-driven virtual assistant that allows users to perform their banking activities through voice commands. When a user gives a voice command in English, CellFin Echo verifies the customer’s identity and completes the rest of the tasks automatically. No hand touch is required, according to a media release. 

For example, if a customer says, “Show me CellFin/mCash balance,” CellFin Echo instantly shows the balance. If the user simply says the account number, CellFin Echo shows the balance of that account immediately. Similarly, if the user says “Send Taka ten thousand to Mamun’s account,” CellFin Echo shows a preview of the transfer to the account saved as Mamun in the Favorites list. The customer then completes the transaction by entering PIN and OTP.

Users can also pay their Khidmah credit card bills using voice commands alone. When the user says “Check my Khidmah bill and pay,” CellFin Echo automatically checks the outstanding bill and proceeds with the payment from the account without requiring any touch until the final step. The customer only enters the PIN and OTP to finish the process.

With CellFin, withdrawing cash from an ATM booth has become easier and faster. If the user says “Generate token to withdraw Taka twenty thousand from account number…”, uttering the account number, CellFin Echo automatically creates a token for withdrawing Taka twenty thousand from the specified account.

This token can be used at the ATM booth to withdraw the cash, the release says. 

Mobile recharge can also be done without touching the phone. When the user says “Recharge my mobile with Taka twenty,” Taka twenty is automatically recharged to the user’s phone. There is no need to search or type the recipient’s mobile number. Saying the saved name or the number is enough for the recharge to be completed.

CellFin Echo’s capabilities extend beyond transactions. Through voice commands, users can see their account statements, CellFin and card limits and information on charges and fees. They can also access statements for specific periods and filter them as needed. The user can even log out using voice commands without any touch. It feels like a piece of science fiction brought to life, according to the release.  

At present, CellFin Echo is in its learning phase to recognize users’ voices more accurately.

For now, PIN and OTP must be entered manually but these steps will also be automated in the future, the release adds.