South African Bank Becomes Biometric ATM Pioneer

One of South Africa’s biggest banks has developed a biometric ATM that will allow users to open an account using a fingerprint scan.

In announcing the development, First National Bank said it had been trialing the ATM in the province of Gauteng since November of last year, and that it will deploy 50 more units to select areas over the next six months. Called TouchPoint, the ATM is designed to match users’ fingerprint data against records held with South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs, helping to ensure that fraudulent accounts are not created. In addition to facilitating account creation, the ATM also lets users buy mobile airtime and electricity, and, of course, withdraw cash.

Commenting on the new ATMs, FNB Points of Presence CEO Lee-Anne van Zyl suggested that they could offer a real social benefit in their capacity to deliver banking to underserved areas. “Local retailers are often the back-bone for many communities, especially senior citizens who rely on local outlets to access basic services,” she said. “We believe that our partnership will drive foot-traffic to these small businesses and help them to provide increased value to customers.”

In launching the device, FNB is establishing itself as a pioneer in biometric banking alongside the likes of the Commercial Bank of Qatar. It is the first bank in South Africa to use biometric ATMs.

Sources: BusinessTech, BusinessDay

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May 7, 2018 – by Alex Perala