Visa has partnered with Tencent to roll out palm recognition payment technology in Singapore, marking the first international launch of the feature. Under this collaboration, Visa cardholders from participating Singapore banks, including DBS, OCBC, and UOB, will participate in a pilot program.
To get started, customers will complete a one-time enrollment at the merchant’s point of sale, where they will tap their Visa card, scan their palm, and authenticate the setup. After enrolling, a Visa payment token will be linked to the customer’s palm biometric template, enabling future payments by simply waving their palm, with no need for cards or phones.
Tencent’s system ensures high security by using a two-step authentication process that includes verifying palm prints and the unique vein patterns beneath the skin. User data is encrypted and stored in an irreversible format to protect against theft or unauthorized use.
Adeline Kim, Visa’s country manager for Singapore and Brunei, noted: “Seven in ten Singapore consumers view this as a secure way to pay. Our goal is to provide a seamless and highly secure payment experience.”