Gemalto, Bank of Cyprus claim biometric, contactless payments first

Gemalto has been selected by Bank of Cyprus to supply what is pitched as the world's first EMV biometric dual interface payment card for both chip and contactless payments. Using fingerprint recognition instead of a PIN code to authenticate the cardholder, this is compatible with payment terminals already installed in the country. When customers place their fingerprint on the sensor, a comparison is performed between the scanned fingerprint and the reference biometric data securely stored in the card. The biometric sensor card is powered by the payment terminal and does not require an embedded battery.

"Bank of Cyprus customers will be first in the world to enjoy biometric convenience on a contactless payment card. Our biometric sensor payment card is designed to provide maximum security and data privacy,” says Bertrand Knopf, Gemalto's Executive VP Banking and Payment. "Using biometrics for contactless payments is a natural move as it fits in naturally with the gesture used to pay. It allows a better user experience, enabling higher transaction amounts without entering a PIN while benefiting from the convenience of contactless."

"In order to bring seamless authentication to the banking sector, Gemalto has leveraged its extensive expertise from secure government documents and leadership in biometric applications,” says Stelios Trachonitis, Card Centre Manager at Bank of Cyprus. "Our customers will benefit from this innovative payment solution with the peace of mind that their biometric data never leaves their hands."