Gemalto to deliver biometric smart card tech for micro-banking project in Bangladesh

Gemalto is providing a smart card solution to a micro-banking project in Bangladesh.

Specifically, Gemalto will deliver the smart card technology to Dipon Consultancy Services Ltd. (DCSL), which is implementing the project in collaboration with Prime Bank Limited. The program, named Prime Cash, represents over 76% of the country’s 150 million population and aims to provide secure access to banking services for people with limited or no access to banking services in both rural and urban areas in Bangladesh.

The Gemalto smart cards contain an embedded software application that securely stores the holder’s facial image and fingerprint data captured upon enrollment and user transactions are validated using biometric authentication. The Gemalto solution facilitates daily life financial services, such as account opening, deposit, withdrawal, transfer, loan repayment and remittances. DCSL has already delivered 200,000 cards to end users.

“This is a great example of how digital security can benefit a developing market and bring essential financial services to the world’s under-banked,” Suzanne Tong-Li, Senior Vice President, Gemalto Asia said. “Bangladesh is one of the fastest developing markets for branchless-banking in the world and we look forward to accompanying Prime Cash Project in their journey towards Digital Bangladesh.”

Gemalto has delivered this solution through its partner Instrumental Clique (IC), a sister concern of DCSL. IC has a market share of around 40% for supply of bank cards in Bangladesh. In its efforts to provide access to banking for the unbanked, Gemalto has already rolled out over ten million smart cards in India for microfinance.

Reported previously, the company has recently supplied an epassport solution to Taiwan.

Additionally, Gemalto has implemented a visa and border management system in Ghana. The initiative, as a part of the eGhana project, is backed by the World Bank and aims to create a modern IT infrastructure that can support sustainable development.

Article Topics

banking  |  Gemalto  |  smart card