Mastercard has collaborated with French prepaid solutions provider Edenred to test its biometric card technology in Mexico.

The card is embedded with fingerprint sensor that can authenticate the cardholder’s identity.

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The biometric features can be implemented on any credit, debit or prepaid Mastercard.

These cards will work with existing EMV terminals, without the need for any hardware or software upgrades by the merchant, Mastercard said in its press communique.

The trial, being carried out in the Mexican state of Sonora, is focused on state benefits programmes.

Mastercard president for Mexico and Central America Jorge Noguera said: “By simplifying a typical purchase transaction, we can demonstrate that this technology works for the benefit of the people who need it the most and ensure that their disbursements are received securely.”

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Sonora secretary of social development Manuel Puebla Espinoza de los Monteros said: “Our beneficiaries will experience greater security when receiving and using their benefit, since the cardholder’s identity is protected and only the owner of the card can use it.”

The benefit programme providers can cut the chances of card-present fraud and boost card approval rates by leveraging the biometric match data feature.

Edenred México CEO Andrea Keller said: “This trial provides significant opportunities in security and proof of identity for the user with the unique form of identification, the fingerprint.

“Furthermore, this technology will reduce the use of cash payments, improving the user experience, and will help with the allocation of funds, especially within social programmes.”