Welcome to Finextra. We use cookies to help us to deliver our services. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you may change your preferences at our Cookie Centre.
Please read our Privacy Policy.

Accept
Channels
Blog article
See all stories »

Channels

Payments

Group

Fintech
External | what does this mean?
This content is provided by an external author without editing by Finextra. It expresses the views and opinions of the author.

An article relating to this blog post on Finextra:

NatWest to trial biometric credit card

NatWest is to begin a three-month trial of biometric fingerprint credit cards with 150 customers.

See article

Biometric Credit Cards. Innovative? Yes, raises a few questions though.

Did you see this news?

NatWest to trial biometric credit card

NatWest is to begin a three-month trial of biometric fingerprint credit cards with 150 customers. The biometric credit cards will offer contactless payments using fingerprint verification for transactions 

https://www.finextra.com/newsarticle/34546/natwest-to-trial-biometric-credit-card 

At the outset, it seems innovative and interesting. I extend my best-wishes to the Natwest team for this new initiative. However, I'm very curious for some details. 

Can someone who understands this better, clarify a few points from a technology/feasibility point of view? 

1. These cards are not really cards, are they? Won't they be needing a sensor, firmware, memory, computing power and some battery built into them? If yes, it becomes a mini-gadget in itself, not just a Simple-Card.

 

2. I am assuming that the fingerprint-verification is done at the card and not relayed to the server for a validation.How would one update (or program) his fingerprint into the card? Correct me, if I am missing something. 

 

3. Couldn't this use-case be built into the Mobile App? Isnt it easier to exploit the inbuilt-sensors instead of duplicating resources?  

 

 

13287

Channels

Payments

Group

Fintech
External | what does this mean?
This content is provided by an external author without editing by Finextra. It expresses the views and opinions of the author.
Report abuse

Comments: (2)

Jan Zaborsky
Jan Zaborsky - Innovatrics - Bratislava 14 October, 2019, 12:27Be the first to give this comment the thumbs up 0 likes

1. Current cards already do contain microchip, memory and antenna (contactless). The microchip is used for processes such as encryption, so no "plaintext" data can be extracted from the card. The cards do not need to have a battery - a current induced from POS terminal can be enough to power the required functions.

2. Yes, the data is validated locally, not by a server, which significantly expands potential use cases (no internet connection is required). The data can be transmitted to the on-card storage via radio signal. In the case of fingerprint cards, the enrolment can be done either in the bank or through a dedicated terminal. Usually once the required data is transmitted, the storage is rendered read-only, so that the fingerprints cannot be changed later by fraudsters.

3. Globally, the card acceptance is much more widespread than mobile payments. Fingerprint cards function just like normal cards, no upgrade of POS terminals are necessary. Both apps and cards have their uses and in brick-and-mortar world the payment via card still makes a lot of sense.

Report abuse
A Finextra member
A Finextra member 15 October, 2019, 04:29Be the first to give this comment the thumbs up 0 likes

Wow. I never knew, POS-terminal induced current can power fingerprint verification. Always thought, it would need more power. 

Makes sense, the logic of making the fingerprint 'non-editable' and also the relevance of the cards in the brick-and-mortar world. 

 

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Jan Zaborsky. Have a good day. 

Report abuse
Join the discussion
Blog group founder

Member since

0

Location

0

More from member

This post is from a series of posts in the group:

Fintech

Fintech discussions and conversations around the development of fintech.

See all
Community
See all blogs »
Fintech 

Eight Top Tips for Successfully Upgrading Your Payments System

Delia Pedersoli

Delia Pedersoli

Fintech 

Empowering Companies House: A New Era for UK Company Law

Francesco Fulcoli

Francesco Fulcoli

Fintech 

How To Create A Mobile Banking App in 3 Months?

Igor Tomych

Igor Tomych

Fintech 

The Numbers Don’t Lie: Tarci Data Reveals SMBs’ Growing Need for Financial Talent

Leetal Gruper

Leetal Gruper

Now hiring

See more