Societe Generale to issue biometric cards for unlimited contactless payments
New card to have a built-in fingerprint verification sensor
France’s largest banking group Societe Generale is piloting a biometric card project – issuing bank cards that have a built-in fingerprint verification sensor.
The card will enable customers to make contactless payments with no cap on the amount.
“Because the cardholder authenticates himself/herself by means of his finger rather than entering the PIN code, all payments can be made using contactless with no limit on the amount,” Societe Generale explains.
“On receipt of the card the cardholder records his/her fingerprint in the biometric card,” the bank says. “The fingerprint is verified directly on the card. No element linked to this fingerprint is transmitted to the merchant or to the bank.”
The bank adds that in other respects, the card is a standard one and can also be used for chip and PIN payments in stores, at ATMs for cash withdrawals and for online payments.
