Amazon’s Alexa Now Powers Bill Pay

“Alexa, ask Capital One: When is my credit card payment due?”

That’s just one of the questions that Capital One customers can soon use to ask the Amazon Echo device and its virtual assistant, Alexa, to conduct voice-activated banking services. Alexa can also share balances and pay credit card bills for that account.

This is all possible through a new partnership between Amazon and Capital One to enable customers to conduct bank transactions with their voice. The bank says these payments are fully encrypted, leaving Amazon out of the account process. Alexa also lets its users have a security code so other users cannot authorize transactions.

This is among Alexa’s latest “skills” that extend the virtual assistant’s abilities to engage with consumers for payments and commerce transactions.

“The Alexa Skills store is quickly growing, and today, we’re excited to add the Capital One skill, which is the first skill that will enable Alexa users to interact with their financial accounts,” said Amazon Alexa Director Rob Pulciani. “Now, Alexa can quickly provide your Capital One banking balance, latest transactions and more on Amazon Tap, Echo Dot, Amazon Echo or Fire TV devices — all conveniently with just your voice.”

This feature uses Capital One’s API and integrates it with Alexa. This is among the latest batch of features that developers can look forward to in terms of continued development for Alexa’s connected commerce ability. This, the Amazon team believes, will be another way to attract more consumers, developers and companies to its Alexa platform.

“More and more voice experiences are coming, and it’s only going to get better for our customers,” Pulciani said.