Hitachi Selected by Shinkin Central Bank

Hitachi's Finger Vein Authentication Technology Selected by Shinkin Central Bank (SCB) New York Branch

Hitachi America, Ltd., Security Solutions Group, today announced that Hitachi's access control system employing its vascular authentication technology has been adopted for access control system at the New York Branch office of Shinkin Central Bank (President and Chief Executive Officer: Kosuke Nakahira/SCB, General Manager of New York Branch: Kazuhito Harada) . The application is the first access control system in United States that is using Hitachi's finger vein authentication technology.

The New York Branch of Shinkin Central Bank began operating in a new location on February 20 and decided to employ the new Hitachi technology based on the ease of implementation and the accuracy of the technology. Hitachi's vascular biometric access control system is implemented in the trading room, the operation room and the server room. When entering a room, an ID number is entered into a keypad, and the finger is placed on a reader for validation of the vascular pattern. Upon confirmation, entry to the room is permitted. Employing this type of biometric device eliminates the need for keys or cards.

The finger vein authentication system business of Hitachi up until the present time has focused on the Japanese market for applications such as ATMs for financial institutions, fast becoming the de-facto standard. It also is beginning to find growing use in PC access and building entry. Markets in Southeast Asia are also seeing application of the technology, particularly in Singapore. To further promote the technology, Hitachi, Ltd. established "Finger Vein Authentication Business Centers" in the United States, Europe, Singapore and China. Hitachi's goal is to make its finger vein technology solution a de- facto standard for high-security authentication - Hitachi.