Taiwan state-run banks to use facial recognition at ATMs

台灣公股銀行將在自動櫃員機（ATM）上使用人臉辨識技術

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Finance is requiring eight state-owned banks to install anti-fraud ATMs incorporating AI facial recognition to strengthen efforts to combat fraud, per Liberty Times.

The ministry said the new measures will help prevent scammers from withdrawing and transferring money. Individuals wearing hats, masks, or sunglasses may receive a warning on the ATM prompting them to remove them before completing transactions.

The anti-fraud system will also display a message if a person is making a phone call while transferring money. The ministry said only 1% to 2% of ATMs at the state-owned banks currently have facial recognition functions installed.

The eight banks are Bank of Taiwan, Land Bank of Taiwan, Hua Nan Commercial Bank, Taiwan Cooperative Bank, First Commercial Bank, Chang Hwa Commercial Bank, Mega International Commercial Bank, and Taiwan Business Bank.

The decision was announced during a routine meeting of state-owned bank board members late last year. Banks were instructed to study ways to prevent scammers from hiding their identities by wearing masks or helmets when withdrawing or transferring funds.

The Financial Supervisory Commission has also encouraged banks to pilot facial recognition alerts this year. If a customer is wearing a mask while withdrawing money, the ATM may emit an alarm prompting the customer to remove the mask or helmet and show their face.

A ministry official said it wants state-owned banks to have 20% of their ATMs equipped with AI facial recognition anti-fraud functions by this year. Privately run banks such as CTBC Bank and Taishin International Bank are also introducing such fraud prevention measures.