NatWest Starts Biometric Payment Card Trial

“The trial program is a significant development for Fingerprint Cards, which has looked to the emerging biometric payment cards market as an important new business area… “

The UK bank NatWest has started its trial of biometric payment cards, and Fingerprint Cards technology is playing a role, the latter has announced.

News that NatWest would trial the technology first broke in early March, with reports indicating that Gemalto would provide the biometric cards. Now, it’s clear that the cards feature Fingerprints’ T-Shape sensor module, as well as the company’s FPC-BEP biometric software.

Fingerprints’ has also revealed one further detail about the pilot program, explaining in a statement that it will allow for purchases above the £30 payment cap that normally applies for contactless transactions.

The trial program is a significant development for Fingerprint Cards, which has looked to the emerging biometric payment cards market as an important new business area as the company seeks to expand its activities beyond the mobile biometrics market that has been its mainstay. And its partner, Gemalto, is bigger than ever in the wake of its recent acquisition by Thales, which could give it even more flex in the nascent market as various firms seek to establish strong positions.

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(Originally posted on Mobile ID World)