MasterCard Announces New Payment App "Identity Check Mobile"

In the quest to improve reliability, security and speedy transactions online, MasterCard has announced the roll out of the "Identity Check Mobile", a new payment technology application that uses biometrics, including fingerprint and facial recognition, to verify a cardholder’s identity and simplify online shopping.

The first bank in America and Canada to offer Identity Check Mobile to its corporate customers from the first half of the year is
BMO Financial Group (BMO).

Recall that the rollout of Identity Check Mobile follows a launch of Mastercard and BMO earlier. Meanwhile, people are happy and eager to experience this new payment method. In fact, a research shows that 3 out of every 4 participants agree that biometrics is easier to use than passwords. Nine out of 10 participants anticipate using biometrics for online payment security in the future.

“The pilot tested the potential of delivering greater security and convenience using biometric technology. Our goals were to understand the attitudes and perceptions of our participants toward biometrics as an online payment security solution,” Steve Pedersen, vice president, head, North American Corporate Card Products at BMO, said.

“After using Identity Check Mobile, our programme participants gave strong reviews on biometric security and ease of use, especially as compared with passwords. We are looking forward to bringing this same experience to our clients in 2017,’’ he added.

Some of the basic importance of Mastercard Identity Check Mobile is that it minimises the need for passwords while doing online transactions which tremendously speeds the digital checkout process as well as improving security.

A cardholder can verify his/her identity by using the fingerprint scanner or facial recognition technology on his/her smart phone with the Identity Check app. How do you see this development? Interesting technological innovation if you ask me.