SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Jan. 13, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via PRWEB - USAA members residing in the states will soon be able to log into their accounts through mobile devices using biometric recognition. This will make USAA the first U.S. financial institution to offer facial and voice recognition on a mobile app as added protection against fraud and identity theft. USAA members are expected to have access to biometric logon capabilities in early 2015.
Millions of U.S. consumers are the victims of identity theft each year, which is consistently the leading complaint filed with the Federal Trade Commission. Through biometric technology, all stateside USAA members will soon have the option to use their voice or face to quickly and securely access their account information in the USAA mobile app. This extends the mobile app's multifactor authentication options to include a unique PIN, face and voice recognition – all of which work in conjunction with a security code generated by the app for each login. Multifactor authentication uses a minimum of two factors of identification to add another layer of security.
"USAA is committed to cutting-edge solutions to make our members' financial transactions as secure as possible," said Gary McAlum, USAA's chief security officer. "The use of multifactor authentication through biometrics is one of the most effective ways to increase security protection as traditional passwords become increasingly obsolete."
USAA's facial recognition requires users to look at the screen and, when prompted, blink their eyes. For voice recognition, users must read a short phrase. Following a successful pilot in California, Texas and Florida, USAA will now make these features available to stateside members. In addition to the pilot states, biometric logon is currently available in Georgia, North Carolina, New York, Washington, Colorado, Maryland, Arizona, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee and Illinois.
Biometric logon is part of a broader effort by USAA to enhance the member experience and security within their mobile app. The organization recently enhanced the app to provide members the ability to immediately connect with a member service representative using a voice-over-Internet connection instead of a traditional phone call.
"The recent enhancements to the USAA mobile app highlight our focus on the member experience we deliver," said Carl Liebert, USAA's chief operating officer. "We'll continue to find and develop all solutions that can make the lives of our members simple, easy and more secure."
The new option will be available through an update to the USAA mobile app for iOS® and AndroidTM devices. Also, USAA plans to test the use of fingerprint identification to log in to the organization's mobile app.
To learn more about USAA's mobile capabilities, visit http://www.usaa.com/mobile.
About USAA
The USAA family of companies provides insurance, banking, investments, retirement products and advice to 10.6 million current and former members of the U.S. military and their families. Known for its legendary commitment to its members, USAA is consistently recognized for outstanding service, employee well-being and financial strength. USAA membership is open to all who are serving our nation in the U.S. military or have received a discharge type of Honorable – and their eligible family members. Founded in 1922, USAA is headquartered in San Antonio. For more information about USAA, follow us on Facebook or Twitter (@USAA), or visit usaa.com.
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