Fidor Bank in Germany is set to pilot biometric payment cards from Zwipe in the second half of 2022.
Biometric payment cards utilize fingerprints, which are securely verified on the card through an integrated fingerprint sensor, allowing payments to be completed without the need to physically touch the payment terminal. Consumers link their fingerprint to the card at home, with the fingerprint template stored solely on the card.
Boris Joseph, CEO of Fidor Bank, stated, “Next-generation payment cards powered by on-card fingerprint authentication will significantly enhance our payment offerings, providing a seamless checkout experience and improved transaction security. We aim for a commercial launch in the second half of 2022.”
Founded in 2009 and based in Oslo, Zwipe has conducted various biometric payment card pilots across Europe and the Middle East. The company has collaborated with Visa, Mastercard, and Gemalto to test its technology with numerous banks, including Italy’s Intesa Sanpaolo and Finland’s Op Financial.