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Move over Apple, NatWest’s newest bank card uses your fingerprint

NatWest is trialling a brand new bank card – one without a pin, but instead relies on your fingerprint to verify transactions.

Sure, we're used to things like Apple Pay or Google Pay where you verify payments using FaceID or a smartphone fingerprint scanner. Paying with your finger is the next step.

Yesterday, the bank revealed the UK’s first biometric fingerprint card in a trial with 200 customers. Now, these customers can use their fingerprint to verify transactions above the £30 contactless limit, as well as use it for other payment services like getting cash out from an ATM.

What are biometrics?

Biometrics are a form of biological measurement that can be used to identify individuals. Fingerprint scanning or facial recognition are forms of biometric technology.

In a statement, NatWest’s head of payments, David Crawford, said: “We are using the very latest technology across our business to make banking easier for our customers and biometric fingerprint cards are one of the many technologies we are exploring further.

“This is the biggest development in card technology in recent years and its great to finally see the cards in the hands of our customers.”

How does biometric banking work?

The biometric fingerprint card trial will see 200 people trying out the service over the next three months.

All customers need to do is register their fingerprint to their card, which they can do in their own home, using a small plastic sleeve that comes with the card. Once a fingerprint is locked onto a card it cannot be changed.

Customers register their fingerprint using the NatWest bank card (NatWest)
Customers register their fingerprint using the NatWest bank card (NatWest)

NatWest says that the fingerprint is only held on the card and not centrally by the bank. Each transaction is verified using data which is encrypted and stored locally on the card.

In order to facilitate the new card, NatWest is working closely with digital security company Gemalto and Visa to offer the service to customers in the UK.

After the three-month trial, customers will continue to be able to use the cards, and NatWest will look into their feedback before it considers plans to roll out the service further.

Is biometric banking the future?

The idea behind biometric banking is that it can make payments a lot more secure because instead of depending on a PIN, which can be lost or stolen, a fingerprint is unique and cannot be replicated.

Jeni Mundy, UK and Ireland managing director of Visa, said: “In financial services, biometrics are gaining ground as a secure and convenient alternative to passwords and PINs. This technology has the potential to make the lives of consumers easier and providers greater choice to confirm their identity.”

According to a survey by IDEX Biometrics last year, 53 per cent of UK consumers said they would trust the use of their fingerprint to authenticate payments more than a pin. As well, around 70 per cent said they were concerned that contactless payments are leaving them exposed to theft and fraud.

However, the ones that did say they were hesitant about using fingerprint biometrics, said they had security concerns around how this data will be stored.

NatWest says that the data about the fingerprint is held only on the card, and not the bank but the issue here will be how this is communicated. Speaking about the future of biometric banking, IDEX Biometric’s SVP Dave Orme, said: “The next step is for banks and Government bodies to build consumer confidence and demonstrate that personal information is far safer and better protected as a result of biometric innovation for payments, identification and beyond.”