Absa will be the first bank in South Africa to implement Visa’s new specification for the use of biometrics with chip card transactions and will develop a proof of concept trial to be launched this summer.
The specification can enable palm, voice, iris or facial biometrics, Visa said in a statement. The technology framework is designed to work with the Europay, MasterCard, Visa (EMV) chip standard to ensure interoperability.
The technology allows fingerprints to be securely accepted by a biometric reader, encrypted, and then validated, Visa said.
“The specification supports ‘match-on-card’ authentication where the biometric [information] is validated by the EMV chip card and never exposed or stored in any central databases,” it said.
“Issuers can optionally validate the biometric data within their secure systems for transactions occurring in their own environments, such as their own ATMs.”
Absa, Visa said, intends using fingerprint readers at selected ATMs in lieu of a Pin to complete transactions.
“In order to prevent potential fraud as well as encourage easier access to banking, there is strong interest in biometric solutions in South Africa and other developing countries where banking and electronic payments may still be nascent,” Visa said.
It added that it intends offering to contribute the technology to EMVCo, the global technical body that manages the EMV specifications. — © 2015 NewsCentral Media