NatWest introduce biometric solutions to business payments

NatWest has announced the launch of a new biometric payment approval feature for  business and commercial banking customers.

Claimed to be a UK banking first, users can now make payments of any size through their bankline mobile app using face or touch ID, without the need for a card reader.

The new feature also allows businesses to authorise multiple users to set up payments, which business owners can then subsequently approve through their app.

James Holian, chief operating officer, commercial and private banking, NatWest, said: “We know that ease, speed and security are important to our customers, and that’s why we’re excited to be the first UK bank to offer biometric payments of any size, through our Bankline Mobile app.

In the announcement, the bank said it has worked with “leading external partners” to ensure that the new feature is secure and complies with the forthcoming Payment Service Directive (PSD2) regulations that govern Secure Customer Authentication (SCA) – due to come into effect later this year.

The lender is initially rolling the improvement out to iOS users, with availability on Android and other platforms expected to follow in the second half of the year.

Holian continued: “By offering unprecedented levels of security via three levels of unique authentication, as well as the ability to make payments of any size, we feel this is another important innovation that will make it easier for our customers to get on with doing what they do best: running their business.”

The launch is the latest biometric payment feature from the bank following a move from the RBS Group to launch the first biometric card for personal customers – allowing payment of transactions over £30.