The Bank of America has pushed through a patent application, which describes a biometric ATM system. Reported in ATM Marketplace, the patent was submitted to the USPTO in 2012 and published recently in 2013. Specifically, this patent application outlines a system for authenticating users with a combination of a pin-code and fingerprint biometrics.

The design of a biometric ATM and the patent application certainly isn’t very specific, and at this point it looks like the BofA is staking out some territory for development, and doesn’t want to leave much room for competition.

“[A] fingerprint scanner for use in the systems and methods of the invention may use optical fingerprint imaging, ultrasonic sensors, capacitance sensors (passive or active) and/or any other suitable method to capture the digital image of a fingerprint,” is just an example of some of the unspecific language contained in this application.

“Any suitable method for PIN validation and fingerprint validation may be used to validate the input PIN and fingerprints.” It’s been widely acknowledged that payment systems and ATMs are a coming wave for biometric integrations, and it’s interesting to see the BofA making a move.

There are a few places where biometric ATMs are already a reality. Reported previously, the Central Bank of Nigeria has teamed up with Dermalog for biometric POS systems as well as for biometric ATMs. Likewise, in Kenya, Tracom Services has launched a new line of fingerprint ATMs in Nairobi. […]