Swiss trial first biometrics-only bank

Swiss bank Pictet has become the first in the world to rely totally on biometrics to control access for staff and account holders.

The system, built by biometrics specialist Bioscrypt, works by taking snapshots of the face to create a 3D grid with 40,000 identifiable data points, which are held on a server.

Anyone entering will have their face scanned and compared with records in less than a second before being allowed in.

"As what we trust to be the largest identification based biometric access control system in the world, we believe Pictet is raising the bar and becoming the model for authentication technology in the financial services industry," stated Robert L Williams, president of Bioscript.

The bank is not only looking for better security, with no tokens or passwords to deal with, but is hoping to cut HR costs as the system will link into employee attendance and timesheet calculations.

The system uses 110 facial scanners along with magnetic locking doors to allow access.