Equity Bank has introduced biometric payment authorization on its mobile app, allowing customers to approve transactions using facial recognition or fingerprint verification.
The new feature is designed to provide customers with a faster and more secure way to authorize payments while reducing reliance on traditional PINs and passwords.
Equity said the biometric functionality strengthens security by using a customer’s unique physical characteristics to verify transactions. Customers can use Face ID or fingerprint authentication available on their smartphones to approve payments.
The development comes as financial institutions increasingly adopt biometric technologies to enhance digital banking security amid evolving cybersecurity threats.
According to Equity, traditional security methods such as passwords and PINs can expose customers to risks including shoulder surfing, phishing, social engineering and credential theft.
With biometric authorization, customers can approve transactions without repeatedly entering passwords or verification codes, making the process more convenient for activities such as sending money, paying suppliers and making purchases.
Equity said customers’ biometric information is not stored on its systems. Instead, the biometric data remains protected within the smartphone’s security infrastructure, with the device confirming the user’s identity to the banking application.
The bank also said biometric authorization provides an additional layer of protection if a customer’s phone is lost or stolen, as transactions requiring biometric verification cannot be approved by an unauthorised person.
The feature is optional, and customers whose devices do not support biometric authentication or those who prefer not to use it can continue authorizing transactions using their PIN.
To activate the feature, customers are required to open the Equity Mobile App, go to Settings, select Security, enable Face ID/Fingerprint for transactions, and enter their existing PIN to confirm activation.
Equity said the upgrade is aimed at combining convenience with stronger security as more customers rely on mobile platforms for everyday banking and financial transactions.
The biometric authorization feature forms part of the bank’s broader digital banking efforts to give customers greater control over how they access and secure their accounts.