US-based Zions First National Bank and biometrics payment firm Pay By Touch have announced the introduction of biometric check-cashing to 12 locations throughout Utah and Idaho. Zions Express uses a finger scan to quickly and securely identify customers when they are cashing a government or payroll check.
The new service entails a bank employee positively identifying the customer using a government-issued photo ID, then digitally scanning the customer’s fingerprint and taking an electronic photo.
The one-time signup process takes minutes, and at subsequent visits to the bank the customer need only place their finger on the Zions Express scanner to safely and securely cash payroll checks.
Zions Bank says that not only will bank customers experience shorter transaction times, they will also be protected from identity theft and fraud.
Pay By Touch says that more than $8 billion in checks has been cashed using its biometrically initiated check-cashing system. Pay By Touch recently acquired BioPay, the developer of the system. To date, more than 2.5 million consumers are using the system to cash checks – primarily in retail locations. Zions Bank is the first retail banker to implement the system in branch locations and is Pay By Touch’s first retail banking customer.