Hong Kong-based Wing Lung Bank is using authentication technology from Thales to provide its retail customers with secure access to Internet banking services.
The bank has deployed Thales' SafeSign two-factor authentication technology to provide secure access to its retail Net banking service, which went live in December 2006. Bank customers have been issued with hand-held tokens supplied by Vasco.
Thales says it worked closely with the bank to design and implement the two-factor authentication system based on its SafeSign architecture and the Vasco hand-held tokens. The platform was implemented withhin six months.
SafeSign supports the use of hardware tokens and can also be used for other forms of authentication - including smart cards, SMS and e-certificates - that the bank may implement in the future, says the vendor.
Fernando Yu, head of electronic banking department, Wing Lung Bank, says: "We believe that enhanced online banking security is the key to our long-term profitability."
Richard Mallett, MD, of Thales' transport and security activities in Hong Kong, add: "The implementation of SafeSign at Wing Lung Bank will provide e-banking customers with the highest levels of security, as well as being easy and convenient to use."
The deployment of Thales' SafeSign also enables the bank to meet the Hong Kong Monetary Authority directive which requires two-factor authentication for high risk transactions.