The $2.9 billion San Antonio Federal Credit Union said it hasdeployed biometrics to its nearly 700 employees, providingone-touch logon to nearly 250 software applications and bolsteringsecurity.

The 253,000-member SACU is using technology from DigitalPersonaInc., including fingerprint readers and keyboards and laptops withbuilt-in readers.

Representatives from each department were trained as “biometricssubject matter experts” who then set up their own team members'finger scans and taught them how to use the readers.

A pilot program also was launched by the IT implementation teamand installation was staggered over a 90-day period, SACU said.

“SACU's biometrics initiative significantly improves oursecurity because passwords are no longer needed for each system orapplication. With faster logons and reduced lockouts caused byincorrect passwords, we are able to respond more quickly to ourmembers' needs,” said Bob Dimas, biometrics project sponsor at theTexas credit union.

He said the training and pilot programs helped ensure asuccessful launch and that more payback is expected.

“The return on the investment can be measured in a number ofways, including the immediate benefits of increased security andtime savings,” Dimas said. “Over the long term, time savings can betranslated into dollars through the efficiency of service andlessened manpower to provide password resets, but it is hard toassign a dollar value for increased security. We just know it isgood for our cooperative and for our members.”

SACU now has 18 locations in San Antonio and one in Houston.DigitalPersona is based in Redwood City, Calif., and said it hasabout 50 credit unions among its more than 1,000 customers.