Bank-by-Phone System The FAR Voice

Telephonic Banking for Everyone

Until recently, bank-by-phone, or audio response, was a service affordable only by larger financial institutions. But not any longer. FAR Systems, Inc. announces a breakthrough in cost effectiveness for these sophisticated Computer-Telephony systems. Even institutions using a service bureau can now afford to own their own system.

At the same time, the first generation of audio response systems has come and is rapidly going. Not only have these first generation systems been expensive, but they are also limited in what they can do. Customer financial services were restricted to pre-defined functions, while other information, such as interest rates, advertising, or information trees have not been available. In addition, home banking, allowing customers access from their PCs, is being demanded.

A Full Range of IVR Services top of page

You (and your customers) need a Bank-by-Phone system that offers more than simple audio response. Consider the product comparison chart below. The FAR Voice provides a more capable system, at a lower price! And it's indefinitely expandable!

Feature/Capability Other Systems The FAR Voice
Security limited yes
Account, Loan Balances yes yes
Withdrawals, Deposits, Checks yes yes
Money Transfers some yes
Artificial Intelligence for 'No Wait' Responses to Callers no yes
Automatic Updates of Loan and Savings Rates no yes
Information Trees no yes
Integrated Voice Mail - Transfer to a Human when Required no yes
Integrated Fax no yes
Ability to Implement other IVR Applications on Same Platform no yes
Simultaneous, Multiple, Different Mainframe/Host Connections no yes

In addition to audio response and home banking, The FAR Voice can even provide auto-attendant and voice mail services for your institution on the same platform. In smaller institutions, this approach is substantially less expensive than separate machines for each function.

A New Software Environment top of page

The FAR Voice provides an environment that eliminates all of the constraints that hamper the flexibility of other systems. The FAR Voice is a powerful software environment which has been utilized to provide the most responsive, most flexible bank-by-phone system ever offered. Though your system will be built upon a solid foundation of tested software, it is not confined to someone else's idea of what the system should sound like or do. The FAR Voice provides a concurrent processing environment in which almost all of the delays associated with the host computer can be eliminated. Your customers rarely hear, "please wait" or, "one moment, please" in response to their requests for information.

You define exactly how your customers access each feature and what features are available. Most of your application is built from modules used before. Custom segments are created using a fourth generation, object oriented application language that insures immunity from major bugs. It makes no difference what accounting software you are using. It is not necessary to have the blessing or endorsement of your accounting software provider. Anything one of your tellers can do from a terminal, The FAR Voice can do.

Complete Flexibility top of page

You define what functions the system will perform. Naturally, all of the standard financial information and transaction functions are available. But in addition, you can provide rates, advertisements for various investment vehicles, and other services. You can even offer information and services by fax-back.

Cost and Reliability top of page

In spite of the low cost, FAR Voice systems include a variety of serviceability and reliability features. All systems are supplied with Uninterruptible Power Supplies and with remote maintenance software. Options are also available to provide hardware based mirror disk systems and other redundant hardware.

Changes and upgrades (such as fax) can be made or added at any time. You can feel comfortable in the knowledge that the software within your system is not a dedicated, overly specialized system that will become obsolete. The functions you need now are created by a general purpose, object oriented, voice/fax/data application generator that allows extensions in all directions.

Have it Your Way top of page

Though FAR Systems, Inc. provides suggestions and guidance regarding the implementation of a Bank-by-Phone system, you can specify all aspects of the system. We can customize your system to provide that LITTLE difference in service that makes a BIG difference to your customers.

And Don't Lose Control top of page

Finally, there is another major difference with The FAR Voice. Even if your system has many custom features, you can retain control. A development license is available for The FAR Voice that allows your computer department to maintain and modify the software if you so choose. The development option includes complete source code and documentation for your application. Your computer personnel receive training in the voice application language. However, even if you choose this option (and many corporations do), FAR Systems stands behind the system and the software. Changes can be made by us, or by you, or any combination of our resources, as you deem appropriate at the time.

How does The FAR Voice Bank-by-Phone system work? top of page

You, and others in your financial institution, frequently access information on your mainframe computer from a PC, using software that emulates (acts like) a terminal. Similarly, the voice system, maintains several terminal sessions (usually one for each telephone line), and uses these terminal sessions to access data that are then spoken to callers over the telephone. Anything one of your tellers can do from a terminal can be done by our voice response or home banking unit.

There is no programming on the host computer. The host computer need not be located at your site. To the host computer, the voice system 'looks' like a group of very fast, tireless tellers, who are on duty 24 hours per day. It makes no difference what accounting software you are using or what type of host computer system you have.

Security for your mainframe data is not an issue. The FAR Voice system acts as an absolute 'firewall' between the caller and the host computer. It is impossible for a caller to do anything on the host except those operations that The FAR Voice is programmed to do.

How Will The FAR Voice System Benefit Me? top of page