Barclays is now using voice recognition technology instead of passwords to identify customers over the phone.
According to the bank, the technology eliminates the need for passwords because the software can identify individuals after they have spoken a few words.
The bank says that it is highly secure due to the unique nature of each person’s voice.
Steven Cooper, CEO of personal banking at Barclays, said: “We can all relate to the frustration of forgetting a password at the crucial moment.
“Voice security can cut out that part of the call completely and, unlike a password, each person’s voice is as unique as a fingerprint.”
The bank says that today’s consumers may have to remember more than 50 passwords for various profiles and accounts, so eliminating the need for passwords for phone banking will make the service more efficient.
Industry experts say biometric authentication will help to keep consumers more secure as the number of ways to access services increases.
Cooper added: “Barclays is constantly looking at ways to improve services for customers and make it easier for them to get things done quickly; this is the perfect example of technology that does exactly that.
“There is no need for customers to change how they bank with us, or in fact do anything differently at all – just continue to use telephone banking in the same way.
“We are committed to providing options so that our customers can choose how they want to bank with us and this is the latest iteration of that promise.”
Earlier this year, HSBC announced it will boost its mobile banking security by enabling more than 15 million customers to access accounts online using either voice or fingerprint recognition.