The $1.1 billion Workers' Federal Credit Union in Fitchburg,Mass., is now using biometrics for its 240 employees at 15 branchesto access online applications and websites.

The 75,100-member WCU has deployed an identity verification solution from DigitalPersona Inc. inRedwood City, Calif., that the company said will allow the creditunion to recover 2% to 3% of its employees' productivity time thathad been spent on password re-sets.

The credit union said it considered software to automatepassword re-sets but decided using fingerprint readers would beeasier for employees.

WCU considered software to automate password resets, butultimately determined that implementing biometrics-based technologywould be easier for both its employees and back officeadministrative staff, the company and credit union said.

“Since fingerprints are uniquely tied to each individual andcannot be shared, lost or misplaced, WCU has a more secure way toconfirm positive identity and improve its workflow. Using justtheir fingerprint to access dual login screens especially speedsemployee productivity,” DigitalPersona said in itsannouncement.

“With DigitalPersona's solution, we have improved our workflowand our customer service, as we now have more time to focus onserving our members rather than remembering and inputting lengthypasswords,” said Dave Thibodeau, vice president of informationtechnology at Workers' Credit Union. “It has also enhanced our security sincethe solution provides an audit trail that tells us who accesseswhat information.”

WCU said it now is expanding its use of biometrics-basedtechnology for physical access to its buildings.

DigitalPersona said its solutions now verify the identities of more than 200 million authorized endusers worldwide.