Biometric payment cards from Mastercard and Idemia to be trialed

Mastercard and Idemia have partnered to launch their first joint pilot of a biometric payment card in Asia for fingerprint-enabled in-store purchases, along with Singapore-based fintech MatchMove.

The card will be offered under the product name F.CODE Easy, after Idemia’s payment card solution. The companies believe the F.CODE Easy will provide the seamless and intuitive authentication experience people are used to from smartphones to the smart card form factor. It also eliminates the need for people to provide a PIN or signature, thereby reducing public touch points.

MatchMove will issue the biometric cards for a pilot in the fourth quarter of 2020, with employees of all three companies using the cards to complete transactions and perform live demonstrations for customers. To support the customer onboarding process, Idemia will provide a full set of services to enable users to enroll their biometrics at home.

“As people make a permanent move to contactless transactions, the biometric card promises more choice and greater security for consumers,” says Matthew Driver, executive vice president of Services, Asia Pacific, Mastercard. “With Mastercard’s focus on digital commerce, this solution is a testament to the innovative partnerships Mastercard cultivates and its mission to provide fast, frictionless payment experiences that are protected at every point.”

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