Bank Pocztowy in Poland is the latest to begin issuing biometric payment cards to its customers, following a trial conducted with partners Fiserv Polska S.A., Mastercard and Thales.
The bank began issuing the cards on December 20, and says they provide enhanced security and support safely distanced transactions. Thales is responsible for developing the fingerprint-enabled card, as well as packaging and distribution.
Thales supplies biometric technology for Mastercard along with partner Fingerprint Cards, which foreshadowed the announcement in late-October. The partners just announced a deal to provide biometric credit cards in Jordan earlier in December.
The cards are currently available to Bank Pocztowy’s corporate customers, and is expected to be made available to small and medium-sized enterprises in January.
Interestingly, the companies note in the announcement that the fingerprint biometric sensor is designed to be more effective than sensors on mobile devices.
“Thanks to extensive and fruitful cooperation with our partners, this ambitious project has been successful and today Bank Pocztowy can offer the first EMV biometric card to Polish customers. It is a breakthrough event in the field of cashless payments in Poland. So far, in Europe this modern solution could only be used by French customers,” says Agata Kontrym-Woś, member of the Board and sales director for Banking & Payment Services at Thales DIS Poland. “Caring for its clients, Bank Pocztowy has opted for innovation and convenience. I am convinced that the new card owners will appreciate the security and the rapidity of the transaction, which will contribute to further digital transformation of the market.”