Commercial Bank Qatar has announced plans to roll out a new technology that allows customers to access CBQ ATMs via finger vein scans.

The private bank announced this week that it has gotten approval from Qatar’s Central Bank to utilize the biometric technology, which it said has yet to be introduced in the Middle East.

The bank did not state when exactly the feature will be rolled out. But customers will need to register to use the scanning technology. Registration is free.

An additional internet banking feature using finger vein scan technology will soon be offered to CBQ’s corporate and VIP customers, CBQ added.

How it works

The technology maps a person’s unique internal vein system within a finger. In a statement, CBQ said this will help improve security.

Unlike fingerprint scans, this tech requires a living person to be present each time they want to access their accounts.

CBQ CEO Joseph Abraham said:

“Biometric security features are an important tool to combat financial fraud and identity theft.

Introducing finger vein scanning technology to the local market and region is not only innovative but also provides an effective way for customers to access their accounts securely without the need for a card or PIN.”

He added that bank, which was also one of the first to find a way for Qatar customers to shop online with debit cards after the central bank prohibited it, plans to continue being “first to market” in the region with other technologies.

Upping security

Worldwide, several banks have been fighting fraud by adding biometric features to customer accounts.

For example, Bank of America offers the option of using a fingerprint scanner to sign into their app on mobile phones.

Barclays meanwhile uses Hitachi’s finger vein technology, similar to CBQ’s system.

The technology is considered highly secure due to the uniqueness of individual vein patterns, which are established in the womb and remain largely unchanged throughout one’s life, according to Hitachi.

And Citibank uses Voice Biometrics Authentication to automatically identify a customer while they are speaking to a service
representative over the phone.

This cuts out the long process of verifying a customer’s identity through account numbers and personal details and allows representatives to provide help more quickly.

Source: dohanews.co