MasterCard recently introduced a biometric credit card that scans your fingerprint to authorize a purchase. Together with the biometrics company Zwipe, Mastercard aims to step-up credit card security, reports said.

“We will continue to work with innovators, like Zwipe, to ensure we stay ahead of fraudsters and provide a seamless payment experience," MasterCard Enterprise Security Solutions President Ajay Bhalla said.

Like Us on Facebook

The Zwipe MasterCard comes with a fingerprint sensor where you initially store your thumbprint data, according to reports.

When making purchases with your credit card, you need to put your thumb on the sensor and swipe it at a payment terminal. The EMV (Europay, MasterCard, Visa) chip authenticates your thumbprint, unlocks your card and authorizes transactions.

This technology replaces the PIN code authentication process, which makes transactions faster.

It also discourages credit card fraud as the biometric system needs the presence of the authorized user to enable a purchase.

The Zwipe MasterCard was the first card to use a biometric sensor to secure payments, the proponent companies said. However, the same technology supports Apple Pay, launched recently and ahead of the Zwipe MasterCard.

Apple Pay, a payment application in smartphones, features Touch ID that requires fingerprint verification before allowing transactions, reports said.

It works by using NFC (near field communication) technology to enable payments after Touch ID verifies the user's fingerprint.

This technology does not store credit card information. It only accesses the information from payment networks when the user enables a transaction.

MasterCard and Apply have also collaborated to boost credit card usability and security. For instance, they launched MasterCard Nearby on Thursday. This app identifies nearby stores that accept Apple Pay.

The Zwipe MasterCard was released in the UK. There were no reports of a release in the United States so far.

TagsMasterCard, Zwipe, Credit Card, biometric