Bahrain's Ithmaar Bank launches biometric ATM network

Ithmaar Bank says it has retrofitted all 43 ATMs with sophisticated fingerprint readers

Following the launch, Ithmaar Bank customers are no longer required to use their cards at the bank’s ATMs. Instead, they can simply use their fingerprint along with their PIN to process financial transactions.

Ithmaar Bank, a Bahrain-based Islamic retail bank, has announced that it has successfully launched the region’s first biometric-enabled automated teller machine (ATM) network.

The announcement was made after Ithmaar Bank retrofitted all its 43 ATMs with sophisticated fingerprint readers after having completed extensive testing of the new security feature.

Following the launch, Ithmaar Bank customers are no longer required to use their cards at the bank’s ATMs. Instead, they can simply use their fingerprint along with their PIN to process financial transactions.

To use the service for the first time, customers will need to register their fingerprint data at their nearest branch.

Ithmaar Bank CEO Ahmed Abdul Rahim said: “This helps further reinforce Bahrain’s already prominent position as a key and innovative banking hub in the region.”

The launch follows an announcement last September when Ithmaar Bank and Eazy Financial Services unveiled plans to launch the region’s first biometric payment network, supported by the Labour Fund Tamkeen.

“The initiative is a result of the financial support of Tamkeen, with the support of the Central Bank of Bahrain and the Bahrain Economic Development Board,” said Rahim. “It is something we can all be justifiably proud of, and it would not have been possible without all their support and guidance.

“Ithmaar Bank is determined to become the retail bank of choice. To do so, we invest heavily in continuously developing our products and services to ensure we meet or exceed customer expectations,” he added.

The network is based on a platform that was developed by Eazy Financial Services, a Bahrain fintech start-up.

Source: Arabian Business