Voice biometricsCredit Union deploys voice biometrics for additional security

To help improve security and ease of use for its security, the Phoenix-based Desert Schools Federal Credit Union plansto deploy voice biometrics to authenticate certain transactions for its members.

Using Finivation Software’s technology, the credit union will use voice biometrics for password re-sets and high-risk transactions.

Eventually, the credit union plans to integrate the technology into its call centers to authenticate individuals requesting assistance.

According to Gary Laieski, chief information officer at Desert Schools, to sign up for the system a credit union member need only to call into the system and leave a quick voice mail. The voice biometric software will then use a mathematical algorithm to identify and record the member’s unique voice characteristics for future reference.

After registering for the program, the member’s voice will serve as their password to verify their identity.

The Credit Union believes overtime the implementation of voice biometrics will save time for members as well as for service staff.

Brian Bodell, the CEO of Finivation Software, said voice biometrics is one of the safest ways to securely authenticate an individual.

“A person’s voice is actually more unique than even their fingerprint,” Bodell said. “And, they always have it with them.”

Bodell added that he foresees voice biometrics will become increasingly more common in the United States.

“The voice side of biometrics has actually been around for about thirty-five years and while most of the activity has been with telecoms and financial service firms in other countries such as Australia, Turkey and Israel it’s still a little bit on the cusp here,” Bodell said.

Once the complicated matter of working out phone switches and core processing systems between various vendors and technologies, Bodell believes, voice biometrics will begin to take hold in the United States.