Citibank Releases Biometric Finger Scanning Payment System

Citibank Singapore is offering a new way for credit-card holders to make payments using their fingerprints instead of credit cards.

Citibank this month began rolling out biometric payment systems in Singapore that allow Citibank Clear Platinum credit card holders to pay using their fingerprints.

Before putting the biometric system into operation, Citibank officials took a long hard look at whether the system was secure ��" and came away satisfied that it was.

For its part, Citibank hopes the biometric technology makes payment more convenient for its card holders, eliminating the need for them to always carry credit cards while still allowing them to buy things. But don't expect to see biometrics replace Citibank cards any time soon. "The technology will be used in conjunction with a credit card," Cavale said.

So far, Citibank's biometric payment systems are in place at only a handful of outlets in Singapore, including local coffee shops and the popular Zouk night club. But the bank has plans to quickly expand the number of such systems and the number of Citibank card holders able to use them.

"Our intention is to roll it out very quickly to other cards," Cavale said.