Add U.S. Bank to the list of companies allowing its customers to access its mobile app through their thumbprint.
The $422 billion-asset company announced Thursday that it has updated its iPhone app to support Touch ID, a biometric authentication tool.
"We have been looking at ways to use biometrics such as voice and fingerprint to authenticate identification for several years," said Gareth Gaston, head of omnichannel banking at U.S. Bank. "Today we have critical mass. With more and more devices using fingerprint as an option to unlock tablets and phones, customers are not only comfortable with fingerprint login, they expect it."
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U.S. Bank recently updated its mobile app to a system that would allow it to react more quickly to new technology. It's going to need that flexibility now that consumers are complaining about missing features in the latest upgrade.
November 18 -
Tangerine, Simple, American Express and Discover are some of the financial institutions that use Apple's Touch ID fingerprint-authentication technology to let consumers replace passwords or to add security.
December 11 -
The biggest bank in the country now lets opted-in mobile Android and Apple customers view their balances without entering their user names and passwords.
December 4 -
Few banks consistently earn more than four stars in the Apple and Google App Stores. The rare high performers listen to users and pioneer new features.
September 9
Indeed, the
By comparison, BBVA's Simple, American Express and Discover Financial Services incorporated Touch ID in late 2014. JPMorgan Chase adopted it in June 2015 and Bank of America followed in September.
The lack of Touch ID, along with functionality issues for some customers, garnered U.S. Bank's app a one-star rating in the Apple App Store at the time. It has since improved to four out of five stars and the most recent comments on the app store applauded the arrival of Touch ID.
The feature will be available in future releases of the U.S. Bank Mobile app for iPad and Android users, the company said.
Additionally, U.S. Bank has enhanced the image capturing capabilities of is mobile deposit feature. The company said the enhancements make it easier to "get the right image on the first try."
