Fujitsu launches biometric ATMs in Europe

Fujitsu has launched a new range of ATMs on the European market, featuring its PalmSecure biometric technology and support for mobile NFC.

Manufactured in Spain, the Fujitsu ATM Series 100 is the first of its kind to offer PalmSecure, a technology that authenticates the user by reading the unique pattern of veins in the palm of the hand.

The Japanese firms says the technology maximises security levels when incorporating mobile applications, such as access to the ATM using contactless technology, or interacting with mobile devices via NFC.

Fujitsu estimates that in 2015, mobile NFC payments will for the first time overtake credit and debit card payments. Over the next five years, more than 245,000 ATMs across Europe are due to be replaced and upgraded, says the firm, with almost 40,000 additional ATMs likely to be installed.

In addition to all the basic functionalities, such as the cash dispensing, receipt printing, scanner, multimedia components or touchscreen, the ATM is also designed to enable installation in small spaces thanks to a reduced weight load. The machines also allow for a high degree of customisation to reflect each bank's corporate branding using a 'clip on cover' system.

Related Companies

Fujitsu Services

Channels

Retail banking Security Payments

Keywords

Cards Mobile & online banking Automated teller machines and network services Biometrics

Comments: (1)

Stephen Wilson - Lockstep Consulting - Sydney 13 April, 2014, 20:51

Be the first to give this comment the thumbs up

0 likes

Fujitsu says that PalmSecure "maximises security" when used with NFC devices but the truth may be the other way around, because palm scanning used in 1:N matching mode needs a second factor like a card or a phone. And thus the biometric ATM falls short of what people have been led to believe by watching sci fi movies. You don't just walk up to a machine, get scanned, and your money comes out. The mindane reality is that someone else's money will come out unless the manufacturers take special precautions.

In Japan, cardless palm scanning ATMs require custoemers to enter their date of birth and a PIN. The reason is that when you try to match a scanned palm against a central database of enrolled banking customers, you get a number of false matches. We don't know how many false matches because the vendors are secretive about their true in-field error rate, but we do know that false matches will rise as more users are enrolled. If they used biometric alone, then a customer may be given randmom access to someone else's bank account. To stop this, the ATM needs a second factor, which in Japan tends to be something-you-know - a PIN.

I interpret the European announcement about integrating with mobiles as meaning that the PalmSecure ATM will use the phone as a second factor.