Biometric banking: Mastercard’s created a credit card with fingerprint recognition to replace pins
You can ditch your pin next time you’re at the till – just a fingerprint is needed to pay with Mastercard’s latest credit card.
Inspired by the likes of Apple, where a touch of your finger can unlock the iPhone, the card company is trialling the biometric technology to make it easier to pay.
Here’s how Mastercard say it works:
Read more: Soon you’ll be able to use facial recognition for banking with Lloyds
“When shopping and paying in-store, the biometric card works like any other chip card. The cardholder simply dips the card into a retailer’s terminal while placing their finger on the embedded sensor. The fingerprint is verified against the template and – if the biometrics match – the cardholder is successfully authenticated and the transaction can then be approved with the card never leaving the consumer’s hand.”
When customers first get a card, a fingerprint is turned into an “encrypted digital template” stored on the card, the company said.
Fingerprints are just one of several ways biometrics are being used to improve security in banking. Selfies and facial or voice recognition, and even the way you type on your smartphone, are being tested by bank’s for making payments and doing online banking.
“Consumers are increasingly experiencing the convenience and security of biometrics,” said Mastercard’s Ajay Bhalla.
Read more: Now you can open a HSBC account with a selfie
“Whether unlocking a smartphone or shopping online, the fingerprint is helping to deliver additional convenience and security. It’s not something that can be taken or replicated and will help our cardholders get on with their lives knowing their payments are protected.”
Mastercard has already introduced “pay by selfie” technology for online shopping
Africa’s Absa bank, part-owned by Barclays, and supermarket Pick n Pay have been testing out the tech in South Africa, but further trials are planned for Europe and Asia Pacific in the coming months.
WATCH: Mastercard’s biometric bank card in action