Friday, July 7, 2006

Zions Bank Taps Into Biometrics

Salt Lake City, Utah-based Zions Bank is tapping into biometrics, with a new biometric check cashing service. The bank will roll out the new, fingerprint-based check cashing service in Utah and Idaho at a number of branch locations. Zions said yesterday that it will use biometric technology to electronically capture an individual's finger image, and use it to match customers at the time of a transaction. The service will be made available free as part of the bank's check cashing services, which are free for zions Bank account holders and at a fee for non-clients. The pilot program will run in 12 of its 133 branches, including locations in Salt Lake City, Ogden, West Valley City, Midvale, Provo, Price and Park City. Zions Bank branches in Caldwell and Burley, Idaho, will also be included in the program. The new service taps into technology from San Francisco-based Pay By Touch.