Revealed
FINGER TIP
Your PIN number bank cards will soon be ‘replaced’ – here’s what’s next
UK banks are working on new technology that will let you make card payments using your fingerprint
YOUR next bank card might ditch rubbish PIN numbers – and use your fingerprint to verify your identity instead.
Banks are working behind the scenes to roll out a new breed of "biometric" bank cards across the UK, The Sun has learned.
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These cards would use fingerprint scanning tech – similar to Apple's Touch ID for the iPhone – to make sure only you can use your bank card.
"What we're talking about is a normal-shaped credit or debit card," said Howard Berg, who works at digital security firm Gemalto.
"The big difference being on the right-hand side is a little sensor, and that's designed for you to place your finger or thumb," he told The Sun.
"Rather than having to use a PIN, you put your finger on the card and it authenticates the use of the card. It's the same for contactless."
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PIN numbers are famously terrible at protecting you.
Chip-and-PIN was introduced in the UK back in 2005, but technology has come on a long way since then.
Having to memorise a four-digit number can be tricky, and can often leave forgetful shoppers stranded at the checkout.
Thieves can easily snoop on you entering a PIN code at a cashpoint, or install camera systems that film you entering your details – making it possible to create clone cards.
We've also heard reports about card "skimming", where people use portable card terminals to make contactless payments on cards inside people's pockets – without their knowledge.
"The idea of using a four-digit number to identify yourself is old-fashioned," Howard explained.
"Ever been behind someone in a queue that forgets their PIN? It’s embarrassing for them, and it’s inconvenient for you.
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"I think the big problem with PINs: one, you can forget them; two, you can change it; and three, you can unfortunately be subject to fraud."
For biometric cards, all you'd need to do is head into the bank and register your fingerprint on an Apple iPad.
They'd then be able to register that fingerprint to your card. It would only be stored on the card, and not on a central database.
Then when you turn up to a payment machine in a store, you'd be able to place your fingerprint on your card, verify your identity, and the payment would go through.
"It’s under your control. No one has access to your fingerprint. It’s on the card. If you throw it away, if you shred it, if you lose your card, no one can copy your fingerprint," Howard explained.
The fingerprint-scanning tech is powered by the magnetic field of the payment terminal, according to Howard.
And shops wouldn't even need to replace their machines (unlike with the rollout of contactless cards): biometric cards will work with existing payment terminals.
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So when can you get one?
Howard told The Sun that there's "an awful lot of interest" in the UK from banks.
"Three or four banks are very interested," he said, but declined to reveal which banks were looking into the tech.
"I would say we'll probably see some next year.
"In the next two to five years, we wouldn't be at all surprised if, in certain countries, they became mainstream.
"We wouldn't be surprised if the UK was one of those countries."
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Fingerprint scanning had always been considered sci-fi technology.
That was until 2013, when Apple launched its new iPhone 5S smartphone.
The handset carried a feature called Touch ID, which let you save your fingerprint to the iPhone – and then unlock it with a simple tap.
These days, most premium smartphones ship with fingerprint scanners built in, and they've become part and parcel of modern life.
Apple now uses its Touch ID system to protect payments using Apple Pay, which can be used at normal contactless terminals.
And Google has its own version of the technology called Android Pay for Android smartphones.
Howard told The Sun its entirely possible PIN numbers will be altogether "replaced" by fingerprint scanning eventually, once biometric cards become mainstream.
Are you ready to wave goodbye to the humble PIN number? Let us know in the comments!
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