Wuhan pilots cardless ATMs with facial recognition technology

ATMs with facial recognition technology that allow customers to withdraw cash without using a bank card have been installed in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, Chutian Golden Newspaper reported on Wednesday.

The 67 machines, put into service by China Merchants Bank, are said to be the first of their kind in the Chinese mainland.

They use a specially developed algorithm to compare a photograph of the customer with pictures that the bank already has on file.

Cash cannot be withdraw until a phone number and password has also been entered.

Previously, the facial recognition technology was used to help bank tellers verify a client’s identity.

It is capable of differentiating between real human faces and photos, videos, or masks, the bank said.