Connect with us

E-Financial

Biometrics: The Next Frontier in Digital Payments

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Imagine a world where you never had to worry about having your bank card with you or remembering a long list of passwords and PIN codes. The time you’d save not having to dig in your handbag or pockets for some cash or a card to pay for your coffee.

You will not have to imagine for much longer. Fast evolving biometric payment technologies could soon make it possible for you to pay for every transaction using nothing more than what you were born with. Just a quick scan of your fingerprint or iris, or even a selfie.

Our research shows that consumer appetite for new payments technology has never been stronger, so the time for biometrics may soon be at hand.

This year’s Sage Payments Landscape Report found that an overwhelming majority of consumers in the UK, US and South Africa (96% in South Africa) claim it’s important for businesses to offer customers a diverse range of payment methods. Most say they would be more likely to shop somewhere that offered them multiple ways to pay.

Hungry for Change
The proliferation of mobile payment technologies and their successful adoption by businesses and consumers has paved the way for biometrics. Ease of use is a major factor for user adoption, but what really makes the difference is security.

The importance of security has increased over recent years following a number of high-profile attacks affecting consumers.

Security matters
Biometric technology has the power to make payments quicker, easier and more secure than ever before. However, it may not be the solution some might hope. Resourceful criminals could lift finger-prints from glass surfaces; they’ll no doubt come up with a number of hacks and exploits to circumvent biometric security.

It also takes time to change behaviours that have become ingrained. Many of us still use PIN numbers to unlock our phones rather than the fingerprint technology built into most smartphones. When it comes to security there is a lot to be said for familiarity and the reassurance it gives us.

We at Sage are giving business builders the power to control their businesses from the palm of their hand. They, in turn, are giving their customers new ways to pay from their smartphones and other convenient devices. Biometrics will be an important part of that landscape in the coming years.

However, I doubt that it will entirely replace existing technologies and behaviours. For now, I think biometric technology will act as a further security measure; support for existing payment protections that will get us all used to the idea. Then, who knows, we could be paying for our weekly groceries in the blink of an eye.


Kindly share this post

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Comments

E-Financial

Lagos State Appoints MoneyMaster as Payment Partner for “Ounje Eko” Programme

Published

on

Kindly share this post

“Ounje Eko”, the food price discount initiative of the Lagos State Government, has appointed leading payment service bank, MoneyMaster Payment Service Bank Limited (MMPSB), as its collaborator in the bid to ensure ease of payments at the market.

MoneyMaster is one of the Central Bank of Nigeria-licensed Payment Service Banks (PSBs) to promote financial inclusion across Nigeria.

Under the partnership, MMPSB will apply its cutting-edge payment solution to engender easy payment and reconciliation in order to make   the experiences of Lagosians who will be getting their food supplies from the markets pleasurable. Its payment solution is also all-encompassing and ensures real time value to payment destinations.

The mobile bank was appointed as the collection and payment partner for “Ounje Eko” Food Markets programme which is a government initiative serving the five divisions of Lagos State. Consequent on this, MoneyMaster Payment Service Bank will collect payments in 57 LCDAs in the state.

The partnership gives credence to the quality of payment solutions that MoneyMaster is reputed for in its services to its growing business clientele in private and public sectors.

 


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

E-Financial

CBN, EFCC Probe Banks, Firms over Alleged Forex Racketeering

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is investigating irregular foreign exchange transactions and forward contracts valued at approximately $2.4 billion.

CBN, EFCC Probe Banks, Firms over Alleged Forex Racketeering

The  inquiry follows an extensive audit by Deloitte, which scrutinized $7 billion in dollar debts accumulated under the bank’s previous leadership.

In the aftermath of the 294th Monetary Policy Committee meeting in Abuja, Yemi Cardoso, governor of CBN,  disclosed to journalists that the investigation, supported by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, among other security bodies, aims to clarify the legitimacy of these FX allocations identified as problematic by the audit.

“It was determined that a number of these transactions did not qualify…they were outright illegal. The law enforcement agencies are now looking into those transactions that as far as we are concerned, are not valid to be paid,” Cardoso detailed, emphasizing the unlawful nature of these forex deals.

The crux of the investigation lies in the audit findings that a significant portion of the scrutinized transactions lacked proper documentation and, in many instances, were deemed outright illegal.

However, the unfolding investigation has raised concerns within the organized private sector, with some entities contemplating legal action against commercial banks for unresolved forex bids.

Despite these tensions, Governor Cardoso reassures that the foreign exchange market remains open and transparent, inviting stakeholders to address their forex needs through the official channels.

Furthermore, Cardoso clarified the distribution of fertilizers to farmers as a one-off measure and not indicative of a shift back to direct interventions by the CBN, underscoring a commitment to strategic, regulatory governance rather than direct market involvement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

E-Financial

CBN Urges Banks to Expedite Action on Recapitalisation

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed deposit money banks in the country to expedite action to increase their capital base from the current ₦25bn.

CBN Urges Banks to Expedite Action on Recapitalisation

Olayemi Cardoso, governor of CBN

Olayemi Cardoso, governor of CBN, stated this during the apex bank’s 294th meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) on Tuesday in Abuja, when the MPC hiked the interest rate by 22.75% to 24.75%.

The apex bank chief said the MPC examined developments in the banking sector and expressed satisfaction that the industry remained stable. The committee, however, said to guard against risk, commercial banks in the country should accelerate their recapitalisation efforts.

Cardoso said, “The MPC also reviewed developments in the banking system and noted that the industry remains safe, sound, and stable. The committee thus called on the bank to sustain its surveillance and ensure compliance of banks with existing regulatory and macro-potential guidelines.

“The MPC also enjoined the banks to expedite actions on the recapitalisation of banks to strengthen the system against potential risks in an increasingly globalised world.”

 

 

 

 


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Trending