A cash machine already in trial allows customers to withdraw money by waving their finger.
Technology has been developed to read the pattern of veins in the finger which will identify the customer.
Infra-red sensors can read the pattern of the veins just below the surface of the skin.
The light is partially absorbed by haemoglobin in the veins to capture a unique finger vein pattern profile, which is matched to a profile.
The technology removes the need for a debit card or a Pin.
Already 1,730 cash machines in Poland have the special readers. The technology is also being used in Japanese banks and in Turkey.
The developer, Hitachi, says it provides “groundbreaking levels of accuracy and speed of authentication”, which in theory tightens security.
A similar technology has been developed for shops in America, called Biyo. Customers can pay by placing their hand over a scanner whose technology reads the vein patterns under the palm.
The developers say that Biyo aims to mitigate fraud and identity theft and to protect sensitive data.
