Revolut launches face recognition payment
Revolut has begun testing a new payment method in the UK called Pay with Smile, which allows you to confirm a purchase using face recognition - without a bank card or smartphone.
The feature works through the Revolut Register POS system. During payment, the customer selects Pay with Smile on the terminal screen and undergoes face verification. The system compares it with the data Revolut already obtained during customer identification when opening an account. After successful verification, a transfer is made from account to account.
Enabling the feature is voluntary. The customer needs to manually activate Pay with Smile in the Revolut app settings; users will not be automatically enrolled in the service. Consent can be withdrawn at any time.
Revolut claims that face recognition data is transmitted in encrypted form, and merchants do not store personal biometric information of customers. Revolut itself already uses biometric data for identity verification, app login, and confirmation of individual transactions.
The first public test is taking place in London from September 24 to 26. Face payment can be used at three Kiss the Hippo coffee shops - in the Bloomsbury, Chelsea, and Soho areas.
Kiss the Hippo said that after testing they plan to deploy the technology in all 12 of their locations by the end of the year. Revolut is also preparing a broader rollout of Revolut Register POS systems, but the company has not yet given specific timelines for a large-scale launch of Pay with Smile.
For businesses, Revolut has initially set a zero fee for transactions through Pay with Smile. The company expects that biometric payment can shorten checkout service time and reduce dependence on cards, smartphones, and QR codes.
Revolut is already developing its own payment ecosystem for stores. The standard Revolut Pay allows payment through the app, NFC, or QR code, while Pay with Smile brings identity confirmation directly to the checkout terminal.
Sources: ITV News / PA, Revolut
