Diebold, Inc. Incorporates Hand Geometry for Safe Deposit Box System

Recognition Systems, the biometric component of Ingersoll-Rands's Electronic Access Control Division, announced that Diebold, Inc. has incorporated hand geometry in their PassVault self-service safe deposit box system. The system has been implemented at the East Memphis branch of the First Tennessee Bank.

PassVault is located on the wall outside the day gate to the vault. Customers gain access by entering a PIN code and placing their hand on the device, which compares the length, width, thickness, and surface area of the hand against a previously stored template. Bank officials are also discussing networking the device so that new accounts departments may open accounts and assign safe deposit boxes via the network, rather than directing customers to specific branches of the bank.

"We were challenged by the retail department to come up with a way where the bank could free up personnel to be more active in sales, versus dedicating a person to the safe deposit box vault," explained Wayne Leggett, project manager for physical security and construction at the new First Tennessee Bank branch. "Initially, we looked at using a keypad with a code and a magnetic stripe card, as with an automated teller machine (ATM), but there was too much opportunity for cards to get lost or displaced. Lost keys are an age-old problem with safe deposit boxes. Then, Diebold recommended PassVault."

"We simply took an established, conventional banking application and improved it through the efficiency of biometric technology to create better customer service and security," said Richard Baggot, vice president, Electronic Security and Currency Systems Group at Diebold. "Customers now have faster access to their safe deposit boxes without branch assistance."    

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