Bank of America is providing free photo security cheque cards and upgrades to avoid the fraudulent use of customer accounts.
The cards will carry the customer's photo and signature on the front. John Rindlaub, president, Bank of America, Northwest region, says: "This greatly lessens the chances that the card can be misused by anyone else."
Bank of America is one of only two banks in the US offering a photo security cheque card.
Washington and Idaho customers can get their photos taken at any of 255 banking centres across the two states or at the 4,500 banking centres in Bank of America's 21-state franchise. The card will arrive by post a few days later.