Singapore’s largest lender DBS has once again upped the ante in the innovation space, and plans to enable customers to bank conversationally from their preferred mobile messaging app by the end of the year.

For the first time in Asia Pacific, the bank announced on August 17 that its customers will be able to use natural language to converse with DBS from their favourite mobile messaging app, manage their money across accounts, track expenses and even make payments in the process.

DBS is working with the US-based Kasisto, a spin-off from SRI International which created the technology behind Siri (Apple's voice assistant), to deliver this service. Kasisto's conversational AI platform, KAI, powers smart bots and virtual assistants with deep banking knowledge.

For a start, the conversational AI technology will allow DBS customers to access banking services quickly on Facebook messenger by the end of the year. The service will first be launched in Singapore and India, followed by DBS’ other key markets. DBS also plans to extend this service to other mobile messaging apps like WhatsApp and WeChat in the future.

The launch of this service will give DBS customers another convenient option of accessing their bank accounts. For example, if customers want to check their balance in their bank accounts, they can simply text “How much do I have?” which will be answered promptly.

DBS customers can also pay bills easily via this service. For example, by simply texting “Can you please pay my mobile bill?”, the request will be processed, but not before identifying the correct payee.

Research has shown that people are spending more time on messaging apps and the launch of this service will allow DBS to connect with customers in a more direct and responsive manner.

In April, DBS launched “digibank”, India’s first mobile-only bank, a revolutionary offering which brings together an entire suite of ground-breaking technology – from biometrics to artificial intelligence (AI) – to enable customers to enjoy a whole new way of banking.

In 2014, the bank made a commitment to investing S$200 million over three years in digital banking regionally and has since rolled out various initiatives to weave banking into the everyday life of its customers so that they can spend more time with their loved ones or doing the things that they care about.