Visa has launched a new tap-based identity verification system with fintech company Keyno and Fidelity Bank (Bahamas), allowing customers to activate cards and confirm identity by tapping their physical Visa card against a mobile phone instead of using passwords or one-time passcodes.

The payments giant said the technology, called Tap to Confirm and Tap to Activate, uses the EMV [Europay, Mastercard, and Visa] chip embedded in Visa cards alongside Visa’s Chip Authenticate service to verify cardholders through banking apps.

The system is being rolled out first through Fidelity Bank (Bahamas )’s FIDSECURE mobile app and is designed to reduce reliance on SMS [short message service] verification codes, call centre authentication and manual card activation processes.