Banks get access to fingerprint database

It quotes Cabinet spokesman Jimmy Manyi as saying banks will be able to verify the identity of any person by accessing the fingerprint records of all South Africans in possession of a legitimate identity document from the Department of Home Affairs.

This is aimed at preventing people from switching photographs in the green identity books and stealing the identity of others. Identity theft is costing banks millions of rands every year.

The online fingerprint collaboration will be done between the Department of Home Affairs and the South African Banking Risk Information Centre.

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