Getin Bank, representing the retail part of Getin Noble Bank SA, one of the best known banking brands in Poland and Hitachi Europe Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd (TSE:6501) in consortium with Wincor Nixdorf Sp. z o.o., today announced that Getin Bank is implementing Hitachi’s finger vein biometric authentication in the new Getin Up branch network.

Nowadays, biometrics is considered to be the best method of authentication in the banking sector with a wide range of applications, including at ATMs, branches and internet banking payments. “Within the framework of Getin Up project we want to offer our customers the package of technical innovations that will facilitate them day-by-day using of banking services. Our long-term objective is to implement biometrics in all bank branches.” – said Karol Karolkiewicz, member of the Management Board of Getin Noble Bank.
Biometric technology is used to authenticate a person based on unique human physical or behavioural characteristics such as iris, fingerprint, voice or finger vein patterns. Getin Bank chose finger vein biometrics based on it being safe and secure via the use of the unique structure of blood vessels inside fingers.  It is a solution optimised for banking with one of the largest deployments in that sector in the world, via a large number of Japanese banks.

With such innovators as Getin Bank, biometric technology is setting the new standard of identity authentication in the Polish banking sector, showing the other banks in the European market the safest way to both secure banking transactions and verify customer identity. “This prestigious implementation of Finger Vein technology by Getin Bank further demonstrates the leading position in Europe of the Polish Banking Sector in the development and application of innovative services for retail banking.  Hitachi Europe is delighted to have assisted Getin Bank in this important project that further underlines the leading position of Hitachi’s Finger Vein solution in the banking industry.” – said Hirohiko Hirama, Executive General Manager of Information Systems Group, Hitachi Europe Ltd..

“Finger Vein Biometrics provides the highest security, speed and convenience of transactions in the Bank branch. This is because we are using the biometric data located inside our body which guarantees privacy for all users.” – said Tadeusz Woszczyński, representing Hitachi Europe Ltd. as Director of the Security Solutions Group in Poland and the Central and Eastern Europe region.

Starting from March 2013, this innovative authentication system will be used in selected new branches of Getin. Customer identity verification using biometrics can be performed in the new branches of the bank once the customer has provided relevant enrolment information. Positive identity verification will confirm the identity of the customer, alleviating the need to show identity cards. The bank’s implementation will mean that after authentication, customers will be able to make declarations of will for payment orders, other types of operations and the conclusion of new contracts without a handwritten signature.

The finger vein system was delivered to Getin Bank by a consortium of Hitachi Europe. and Wincor Nixdorf Sp. z o.o., the Polish branch of the global ATM manufacturer and provider of IT solutions dedicated for the banking and retail sectors. “Wincor Nixdorf as a strategic partner of Hitachi, intensively supports the implementations of finger vein solutions, believing that it is the future of banking, both in Poland and throughout the whole of Europe” – said Adam Matyaszek, Vice President, Head of Banking in Wincor Nixdorf Sp. z o.o. and responsible for managing the strategy for growth in the banking sector and financial institutions.

About GETIN BANK
Getin Bank is retail part of a nationwide Getin Noble Bank, belonging to the most dynamically developing financial institutions in Poland. Getin Noble Bank’s offer is addressed to individuals, small and medium-sized businesses, local governments and large corporations. The Bank’s services are used by over 2.2 million customers, and the products are available in nearly 600 its own branches and franchises and a broad network of dealers. Getin Noble Bank is the second largest bank with majority Polish capital. For more information about the brand, the company and its offer can be found at: www.getinbank.pl

About Hitachi Europe Ltd.
Hitachi Europe Ltd., headquartered in Maidenhead, UK, a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., and its subsidiary companies offer a broad range of information & telecommunication systems; power and industrial system; rail systems; digital media and consumer products; industrial components and equipment; air conditioning and refrigeration systems; manufacturing systems; and procurement and sourcing with operations throughout 12 countries across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Hitachi Europe also has three Research and Development laboratories and a design centre. For more information, visit http://www.hitachi.eu For more information on other Hitachi Group companies in Europe, please visit http://www.hitachi.eu/network/index.html

About Wincor nixdorF
Wincor Nixdorf is one of the world’s leading providers of IT solutions and services to retailers and retail banking. The extensive company’s portfolio is centered around optimizing business processes at banks and retail companies. It is aimed mainly at cutting costs and complexity and improving service to the end customer. We leverage know-how from our core business with banks and retailers to diversify into related sectors. These include postal companies as well as hospitality and service station chain operators. For more information about the company, please visit http://www.wincor-nixdorf.com