To help address financial institutions' complex security needs, the St. Paul' Minn.-based 3M began offering multiple security solutions, including automated license plate recognition and biometric scanners to strengthen authentication and control access, the company announced.

“At 3M, we understand the importance and benefit for our clients in working with one vendor to help create an effective and streamlined security program,” Amy McKeown, commercial security segment marketer at 3M, said.

McKeown explained the company's product line-up allows financial institutions to customize and incorporate products as they see fit.  

“With our broad range of reliable, proven and flexible solutions, 3M is able to address the unique security challenges of banking and financial institutions,” she said.

For instance, 3M recently launched the CR5400 Double-Sided ID1 Reader, which checks the front and back sides of IDs simultaneously. The device's capabilities include age and document verification.

Since the primary form of identity verification in the U.S. involves the driver's license, incorporating the CR5400 into the authentication process allows member service representatives and tellers to provide better, more expedited service for everyday transactions, according to 3M. The CR5400 can also provide authentication during the account origination or loan application processes.

3M's biometric technology includes facial, fingerprint and iris recognition capabilities, which can be integrated into existing security products and software.

The company's 3MMiY (“Make it Yours”) biometric access control products offer flexibility at the device and system levels by employing customizable readers; multi-layer authentication tools include card readers, keypads and fingerprint scanners. Areas that require higher security access control, such as vaults, may require the use of all three access control tools. On the other hand, a break room may require just a badge swipe to get in. The MiY access control readers also allow for employee hour tracking.

In addition, businesses can support human resources efforts with 3M LiveScan technology. Through the gathering of fingerprints and palm prints, 3M provides a secure application that links to major background check databases.

The automated license plate recognition – often referred to as ALPR – method allows for continuous, reliable surveillance. 3M's ALPR solution scans and records license plates with a level of accuracy and speed that far exceeds the human eye's capability.

ALPR continuously scans license plates that come and go from a business' premises. According to 3M, if a credit union chooses to work with local law enforcement, this versatile system can help its community by alerting linked agencies when ALPR cameras detect vehicles on government hotlists, such as stolen vehicles or those belonging to wanted criminals. Companies can also maintain their own hotlists to monitor their locations and ensure perimeter safety.