Google Assistant users can now access their Westpac hands-free

Banking
06.06.2018 01:08 pm

Westpac has today extended its voice technology offering with the launch of Westpac for the Google Assistant, helping customers with hands-free access to their account balances, recent transactions, and reward points on everyday banking and savings accounts.

The service is available to Westpac customers who have a Google Assistant-enabled device, including Google Home1 and any smartphone2 installed with the Google Assistant. Customers will be able to link up to three eligible Westpac accounts3 to their Google Assistant account.

Building on a rich history of banking innovations, Westpac is the first Australian bank to provide customers with access to their everyday banking information through the Google Assistant.

With Westpac and the Google Assistant, customers can ask a range of questions relating to their account balance and recent transactions, for example:

Customer question: “Hey Google, ask Westpac for my account balance”
The Google Assistant’s response: “For your Westpac Choice account, you have $106.35”

Martine Jager, Chief Digital and Marketing Officer at Westpac Group said: “We’re always looking for new ways to help make our customers’ lives easier, and are committed to giving our customers even more choice and flexibility when it comes to their banking.”

Westpac for the Google Assistant adds to Westpac’s suite of voice-based banking technology, following the launch of the Westpac Skill this year across Amazon’s Alexa and Echo Spot products.

“As new technologies continue to emerge, it’s important for us to innovate and respond to our customers’ changing needs. Partnering with leaders in voice technology enables us to remain competitive while providing a seamless and personalised banking experience for our customers,” said Ms Jager.

When customers set up Westpac with the Google Assistant, they will be prompted to set up a 4 digit passcode which they will need to provide before the Google Assistant responds to questions about their Westpac accounts. The passcode should be different to the banking PIN.

Currently, customers cannot transfer funds or make a payment via Westpac with the Google Assistant.

Westpac for the Google Assistant is supported by the Westpac Live secure online banking platform. Westpac does not share customer IDs and passwords with Google.