Biometry: &;304;sbank Installing Biometric ATM Estate
- &;304;sbank has installed almost 2,400 biometric ATMs and 1,000 Hitachi sensors in its branches: this initiative enables its cardholders to withdraw cash without taking out their payment card.
- The authentication device called Biyokimlik (Bio-identity) applies to all sorts of transactions, with or without card. The acquirer is also planning to include POS terminals in its scope: dedicated solutions are being experimented in several stores.
- The multifunction and system integration specialist MIG International is in charge of supporting and upgrading the Turkish bank’s NCR and Wincor Nixdorf ATMs.
- &;304;sbank decided in 2010 to ensure biometric identification of its customers and was then planning to set up the largest biometric ATM network in EMEA to improve both user experience (convenience and technology) and services security.
- Once again, this initiative highlights the dynamism of an innovation-oriented Turkish banking sector. However, &;304;sbank is not the only bank proposing biometric authentication to its customers in Turkey. Ziraat Bank, for instance, has opted for the Chinese manufacturer GRGBanking to implement palm vein recognition devices, including 1,500 ATMs and 1,400 removable sensors –see November 2011 Insight. Ziraat Bank does not however seem to envisage potential cardless cash withdrawals for the moment.
- This mass deployment represents an important contract for Hitachi outside of Japan. The manufacturer is slowly entering the European market where biometric authentication at the ATM is taking its first steps. In 2010, the Polish bank BPS was the first to install solutions of this kind with Hitachi and Wincor Nixdorf (see May 2010 Insight). In France, despite the CNIL’s unfavourable opinion, a bill on identity protection has been adopted on 1st February to allow the development of biometric IDs among other things. Also, an ifop/Wincor Nixdorf e payment Barometer shows that 69% of French users are in favour of biometry.