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Natwest to trial fingerprint payment cards

Joanna Faith
Written By:
Joanna Faith
Posted:
Updated:
11/03/2019

Natwest is set to pilot a biometric bankcard, which will let customers verify transactions using their fingerprint.

If the trial is successful, people will be able to spend more than £30 using contactless cards and it could mean the end of PIN numbers.

The bank has selected 200 customers to take part in the trial, which is due to begin in the coming weeks and is a UK first.

David Crawford, head of current accounts at Natwest, 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 we are excited to trial the service.”

NatWest is working with digital security company Gemalto along with Visa and MasterCard to bring the service to customers in the UK.

Enhanced security and greater convenience

Howard Berg, UK managing direcor of Gemalto, said: “Using a fingerprint rather than a PIN code to authorise transactions has many advantages, primarily enhanced security and greater convenience. Cardholders can pay quickly and easily with just a simple touch, and they no longer need to worry about the limit on contactless payment transactions.”