Accessing credit card accounts made easy through Amazon Alexa

Amazon Alexa is likely becoming a preferred channel for consumers to do their financial transactions. US-based direct banking and payment services company Discover recently announced that its cardmembers can access their credit card accounts with the power of their voices through Amazon Alexa. The new Discover skill for Alexa offers customers a convenient and hands-free way to access account information, including their recent transactions, available credit, current balance, rewards category information and payment due date.

Alexa, the cloud-based voice service that powers Alexa-enabled devices, like Amazon Echo, Echo Show, and Echo Dot, provides customers access to skills, capabilities similar to apps, but for voice. Discover customers who have linked their account to Alexa can access the new Discover skill by simply saying “Alexa, open Discover.”

“We are committed to providing our customers with valuable solutions that fit their routines, whether through our mobile app, on the web or with voice,” said Shaida Lynch, vice president of e-business at Discover. “As more consumers embrace voice-assisted technologies, like Alexa, to help manage various aspects of their lives, we’ll continue to provide solutions that meet our cardmembers’ needs wherever or however they prefer to manage their accounts.”

Alexa uses Amazon’s automatic speech recognition and language technology that allows people to use their natural voices to interact with Alexa-enabled devices. Discover customers who have enabled the skill and linked their account can ask Alexa questions or make a request posed in natural language such as: