04.16.18
Gemalto is supplying its Visa biometric contactless EMV bank card to areeba, a fast-growing financial technology company that provides payment solutions for banks, governments and merchants in the Middle East region. This is the first time that contactless biometric card has been introduced in the Middle East or Africa.
The biometric payment card can be used at thousands of standard POS terminals throughout Lebanon, thereby offering shoppers opportunities to purchase goods and services more conveniently, quickly and securely.
The biometric card includes the latest technology from Zwipe, a biometric technology company, and allows cardholders to authorize transactions by using its built-in fingerprint scanner rather than entering a PIN. The fingerprint is instantly compared with the cardholder’s biometric data safely stored in the card. The card is powered from the POS terminal, eliminating the need for an on-board battery.
“Our latest payment card innovation marries biometric strong authentication and contactless, two of the most powerful forces currently shaping the consumer landscape,” said Nassir Ghrous, SVP Digital Banking and Payments for CISMEA Region at Gemalto. “By introducing the biometric card to the MEA region, areeba is also marking the beginning of a new era – one that will ultimately spell an end to the need for PINs and passwords.”
The biometric payment card can be used at thousands of standard POS terminals throughout Lebanon, thereby offering shoppers opportunities to purchase goods and services more conveniently, quickly and securely.
The biometric card includes the latest technology from Zwipe, a biometric technology company, and allows cardholders to authorize transactions by using its built-in fingerprint scanner rather than entering a PIN. The fingerprint is instantly compared with the cardholder’s biometric data safely stored in the card. The card is powered from the POS terminal, eliminating the need for an on-board battery.
“Our latest payment card innovation marries biometric strong authentication and contactless, two of the most powerful forces currently shaping the consumer landscape,” said Nassir Ghrous, SVP Digital Banking and Payments for CISMEA Region at Gemalto. “By introducing the biometric card to the MEA region, areeba is also marking the beginning of a new era – one that will ultimately spell an end to the need for PINs and passwords.”