MUMBAI:
Axis Bank has become the first bank in the country to introduce Iris Scan Authentication feature for Aadhar-based transactions through its micro ATM tablets.
This service, which requires a customer to scan their iris on a tablet, will boost the Bank’s Financial Inclusion efforts by making Aadhar authentication process hassle-free and offering easier access to digital banking for consumers especially in the rural parts of the country.
Micro ATMs completely eliminate the requirement of debit cards, passwords, PINs, user IDs, etc. and empower consumers to avail banking services using only their Aadhar numbers and biometrics (iris scan/fingerprint scan). The Bank has deployed highly secure iris powered micro ATM tablets which are STQC certified & UIDAI compliant registered devices with completely integrated iris sensors. Iris scan technology is completely contactless and provides up to 98.2% authentication success rate (as per study conducted by the International Centre for Biometric Research) and offers an edge over other prevalent biometric modes.
Speaking on the new feature, Rajiv Anand, Executive Director – Retail Banking, Axis Bank said, “We are delighted to introduce the iris authentication feature for Aadhaar-based transactions. We have built this feature in a way that improves transaction experience over micro ATMs by making Aadhar authentication process hassle free and simple for our customers, especially senior citizens and those from far flung rural regions who often face rejections while using other biometric modes. We feel that the iris scan technology has profound potential in authentication space in the future, as India continues its push to becoming a less-cash society.”
The process of transaction through iris scan is very simple. Customer need to select the desired service (funds transfer, cash withdrawal, etc.) and feed-in their Aadhar numbers in the micro ATM. Next, they will have to choose ‘IRIS’ as the desired mode of authentication. Verification will be done by scanning the eyes of the customers through the tablet’s iris sensor
camera in 3-5 seconds. The transaction will be completed after the biometric details are verified from the UIDAI database.
Axis Bank is presently running a pilot program for its customers at 8 branches in rural segment largely covering areas of Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh. The Bank is also exploring application of iris-based Aadhar authentication for varied services such as loan processing, insurance, eKYC account opening and others, most likely extending to the semi-urban and urban regions as well.
