IDEX and IDEMIA Provide Biometric Card Tech for Swedish Challenger Bank

A Swedish challenger bank is moving forward with the commercial launch of a new biometric payment card. Rocker previously conducted a biometric card pilot in 2021, and is now announcing the wide release of the aptly-named Rocker Touch card for prospective customers.

The Rocker Touch will feature biometric technology from IDEMIA and IDEX Biometrics. IDEMIA supplied Rocker with the card that was used during the pilot, which featured FPC’s T-Shape fingerprint sensor module. FPC is no longer involved with this specific biometric card – IDEX has confirmed with FindBiometrics that the Rocker Touch exclusively uses the IDEX fingerprint sensor. IDEX’s participation is not surprising given the company’s longstanding partnership with IDEMIA.

The news makes Rocker the first financial institution in Sweden to achieve a commercial launch of a biometric card. The company noted that customer satisfaction is at 95 percent amongst those that have trialed biometric cards, and that the majority (81 percent) of the public is ready to switch from PIN codes to fingerprint security. The Rocker Touch will be available as a premium product alongside the rest of Rocker’s financial portfolio.

“As a bank challenger, we are constantly testing new technology to develop smarter financial services that are easier to use and that help our customers improve their everyday financial lives,” said Rocker Save & Spend VP Andreas Norberg. “Launching Rocker Touch is part of our strategy to offer smart and secure payment solutions across platforms, whether you wish to pay with your mobile, a card or with a transfer.”

“These partnerships embody our commitment to providing secured and trusted technologies to our customers,” added IDEMIA Europe Region Financial Institutions SVP Aaron Davis. “These cards allow authorizing payments via a fingerprint sensor embedded into the card. In addition to making our means of payment more secure, customers would also be able to pay contactless whatever the amount of the transaction.”

The technology in Rocker’s new card already boasts Mastercard and Visa certification, and can therefore be used at any payment terminal that supports either payment scheme. IDEMIA is currently providing card personalization services for Sweden’s Handelsbanken.

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February 28, 2022 – by Eric Weiss