Biometric security uses your unique physical characteristics, typically your fingerprint or face, to verify your identity. It's faster than typing a password and significantly harder to compromise, making it one of the most effective ways to protect access to your accounts.

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How biometric authentication works\n

Biometric systems capture a physical trait, convert it into an encrypted digital template, and compare that template against stored data when you authenticate. The two most common methods on smartphones are:

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Fingerprint scanner, modern scanners use capacitive, optical, or ultrasonic sensors to build a detailed digital map of your fingerprint. Ultrasonic sensors (found on some premium phones) are the most precise, creating a 3D map that's harder to spoof with a flat image.

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Facial recognition, basic systems use the front camera and software to compare your face against a reference photo. More advanced implementations (like Apple Face ID) project thousands of infrared dots onto your face to create a unique depth map, far more accurate than a 2D photo, and resistant to spoofing with a printed image.

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Neither method stores a photo of your face or fingerprint. What's stored is an encrypted mathematical representation of the pattern, meaning your biometric data can't be reconstructed even if the template were accessed.

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Why biometrics are more secure than passwords\n

Passwords can be guessed, reused across services, or exposed in a data breach, often through no fault of your own. Biometric traits are inherently personal and can't be shared or transferred. Even if someone knows your password, they can't replicate your fingerprint or fool a depth-sensing facial scanner with a photograph.

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Biometrics also remove the human tendency to reuse weak passwords. There's nothing to remember, nothing to write down, and nothing to accidentally share in a phishing attack.

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No system is flawless, identical twins may occasionally bypass simpler facial scanners, but the technology continues to improve. Most implementations add secondary checks, like requiring your eyes to be open and directed at the screen, to close edge-case gaps.

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How bunq uses biometric security\n

Every time you open the bunq app, you can authenticate using Face ID or your device's fingerprint scanner, whichever your phone supports. bunq uses your device's Biometric ID rather than handling the biometric data directly, so your physical traits are processed and stored securely by your device's hardware, not on external servers.

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Biometric login is part of a broader security setup at bunq that also includes Two-Factor Authentication, Instant Notifications, and account controls like Safety Mode. All security settings can be reviewed and adjusted at any time in the app.

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Learn more about bunq's approach to account security, or explore secure banking features in detail.

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Frequently asked questions\n

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Can someone unlock my account with a photo of me? Not with depth-sensing facial recognition (like Face ID). Basic 2D facial scanners are more vulnerable and are being phased out on newer devices.

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Is my biometric data sent to bunq's servers? No. Biometric authentication is handled entirely by your device. bunq never receives or stores your fingerprint or facial data.

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What if biometric login fails? You can always fall back to your PIN or password to access your account.

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Is biometric login mandatory on bunq? No, you can choose your preferred login method in app settings, though biometrics are recommended for the best combination of speed and security.

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