Sberbank — the state-controlled giant which recently unveiled a suite of new technology products and dropped the word ‘bank’ from its corporate branding — is compiling a database of Russian citizens’ biometric information. Little is known about how the project is progressing, but online publication The Bell believes it could potentially concern some 100 million users of the bank’s services among Russia’s 146 million inhabitants.
Sber is harvesting biometric data using methods that even state officials regard as dubious, according to The Bell. Thus, in school canteens, Sber has launched a system that enables hundreds of thousands of Russian children to pay for meals without cash. Children are identified by the vein patterns on the palms of their hands (read the full article in English here).
Another Sber biometric solution is implemented in a café chain called ‘Prime,’ in partnership with Visa, reports ICT Moscow. Customers can make their payment by looking into a camera in the point of sales. The service is available to users who registered their face biometrics via the Sberbank Online app, at an ATM or in a Sber bank outlet.
The joint solution was created using technologies and equipment developed by VisionLabs, a startup in which Sber invested back in 2017.
From “emotional connection” to competitiveness
Sber also wants to connect “emotionally” with its customers. Last year it launched a neuroscience and human behavior laboratory, covering the fields of neurophysiology, social psychology and cognitive science.
“We understand that we need to serve our customers in different ways,” the bank explained at that time. “Some people prefer to learn about a product in a group of other people, while others need to be given a clear algorithm and shown the benefits. We strive to understand how to properly serve customers as soon as they come to us and depending on their type of thinking.”
“We regard the emotional connection formed between everyone who comes into contact with the products of our ecosystem as the basis of our competitiveness,” Lev Khasis, First Deputy Chairman of Sber’s Executive Board, stated.
