BiometricsBrazilian bank explores online biometric ID

A Brazilian bank is exploring how to create a biometric system that can be used to authenticate online banking transactions.

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Bradesco, one of Brazil’s largest banking and insurance companies, is studying if it can identify accountholders online to ensure the safest transactions possible.

Laercio Albino Cezar, executive vice president at Bradesco, said that the bank is currently working with Fujitsu to develop a device that is capable of identifying customers at home.

“We want to create something that isn’t integrated into the client computer to use separately, as happens today with the tokens,” he said.

Cezar is confident that Fujitsu can come up with a technological solution as existing technology is advanced enough to build a portable authentication device.

The bank currently uses Fujitsu’s PalmSecure biometric palm reader in its ATMs. The biometric sensor scans the vein pattern of a user’s palm and matches it to a database where the account holder has pre-registered their data to verify an individual’s identity.

Bradesco has been on the forefront of implementing biometric technologies in its customer interactions. The bank first began testing biometric palm readers three years ago and has installed the technology in 22,000 of its 32,000 ATMs across the country.

“Our plan is to end 2012 with biometrics systems in 100% of our ATMs,” Cezar said.