Megabank to issue vein-reading cards
The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi is set to become the first major bank in Japan to issue bank cards that identify users by patterns formed by the veins in their palms.
The biometric identification system, first introduced by regional lender Suruga Bank in July, is designed to prevent theft. The bank is so confident in the new service that it plans to cover losses of up to 100 million yen.
The Super IC Card serves as a cash card, a credit card and electronic money. Palm veins are read whenever the cardholder uses an ATM or makes a transaction at a bank counter. The user's personal identification number is still required.
The Gold Premium Card is slated for introduction on Oct. 12. The highest grade of Super IC Card will cost customers 10,500 yen in annual membership fees. Two other cards featuring cheaper annual fees, the General Card and Gold Card, will be added next spring.
Japan Times July article on Suruga
Suruga Bank, based in Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, introduced the account at its Shibuya branch in Tokyo. It will become available on July 21 at a total of 65 branches in Tokyo, Kanagawa and Shizuoka prefectures.
Depositors will be required to deposit a minimum of 1 million yen to open the new account. They will be able to withdraw money only at the branch where they opened the account.
Japanese banks deploy biometric palm scanners
The system requires three snapshots of the palm, taken in near infrared light. In the image produced, the veins show up as dark patterns. This data forms the basis of the security system: it can be loaded onto a smart cash card and used at cash machines to identify the user of the card.
The scan to identify the user takes a couple of seconds, Fujitsu says, and involves the cardholder putting their wrist into a cradle which holds the palm in the right position to be scanned.
Kazuaki Ishida, a spokesman for Fujitsu, said that the technology would help combat shoulder surfing: "It's quite easy for criminals to watch people input their numbers, steal their cards, and withdraw money. Also the number of fake cards is increasing. This system is much more secure."
Fujitsu claims the palm scanning technology is a good balance of security and convenience. He pointed out that most people don't want to submit to retinal scans every time they withdraw cash from an ATM. Fingerprint scanners were also considered, but market research found that women responded badly to the hygiene implications of sharing the print recognition pad with so many other people.
