Bahamas Looks Towards Introducing Biometric Voter IDs with CBN  

The Bahamas plans to replace its current laminated paper voter cards with optional biometric ID cards under new legislation introduced by Prime Minister Philip Davis as part of a broader modernization of voter registration and polling station management. The cards, valid for 10 years, will require voters to update their biometric and personal information once per decade to maintain registry integrity. About 80% of voters already have biometric data on file through the Passport Office, enabling a secure transfer. While the bill retains manual voting and counting, the biometric cards will include digital fingerprints, facial recognition and electronic signatures. ICMA member Canadian Bank Note (CBN), which has previously modernized the Bahamas’ border and immigration systems, will produce the cards. Supporters argue the upgrade will reduce fraud and errors in the outdated system. 

For more information, visit cbnco.com. 

CompoSecure Wins Four Élan Awards for Innovative Card Design  

CompoSecure Inc. has been honored with four 2025 Élan Awards of Excellence by the International Card Manufacturers Association, recognizing its innovation in card design and security. The company won for its FAB Islamic Emirati metal card, which features a 3D falcon design symbolizing strength and nobility; the Ellipse EVC marketing card with dynamic security codes to combat card-not-present fraud; and the Qantas Lifetime Platinum card, crafted from recycled metal with minimalist elegance. CompoSecure was also a finalist for its engraved JCB The Class card and the groundbreaking Robinhood Gold Card, made from a solid block of gold. These accolades underscore CompoSecure’s continued leadership in card innovation, bringing its total to 22 Élan wins and 23 finalist placements to date. 

For more information, visit composecure.com. 

Ellipse Partners with Elo to Bring Dynamic Security Code Technology to Payment Cards in Brazil via EVC®  

Ellipse has announced a strategic partnership with Brazilian payment technology leader Elo to bring its EVC® technology—a battery-free EMV-integrated dynamic security code solution—to Brazil, aiming to combat rising ecommerce payment fraud. Latin America, particularly Brazil, faces high fraud risk, including card-not-present fraud and emerging threats like Caesarian fraud, where a card’s EMV chip is physically tampered with. EVC technology equips cards with a dynamic security code displayed on an embedded epaper screen, which updates automatically after in-person transactions or manually via a mobile app, making stolen card data unusable for fraudsters. The solution also adds physical security through tamper-evident modules, helping to protect cardholders and payment systems from increasingly sophisticated threats. 

For more information, visit ellipse.la. 

The Power of Prestige in Payments  

Premium payment cards have evolved into lifestyle statements and strategic growth tools, offering far more than basic functionality. By using distinctive materials like metal, wood, ceramic or biometric-enabled plastics, these cards provide consumers with status, exclusivity and personalization that reflect their values and aspirations, according to Giesecke+Devrient. Banks and fintechs are leveraging premium card programs to acquire high-value customers, deepen loyalty and increase spending—such as Canadian fintechs reporting 40% growth from metal card offerings. The unboxing experience, design and integration with digital services transform cards into prestige symbols, comparable to luxury brands. As digital wallets rise, premium physical cards remain relevant by delivering differentiation, emotional connection and long-term brand impact, positioning them as vital assets in the future of experiential banking.  

For more information, visit gi-de.com. 

IDEMIA Public Security’s Latest Generation ID-One PIV® Smart Cards Added to the General Services Administration Approved Products List  

IDEMIA Public Security has announced that its new ID-One PIV® 243 smart card has been added to the U.S. General Services Administration’s Approved Products List—the first such addition in four years—after earning FIPS 140-3 Level 2 validation. Designed to meet and exceed federal security standards, the card supports visual ID, physical and logical access and features advanced capabilities like quantum-resistant encryption, biometric authentication and optional FIDO support. IDEMIA also launched a companion USB security key, the ID-One Key™ Bolt, for digital authentication. These products reinforce IDEMIA’s long-standing role as a trusted provider of secure identity solutions to the federal government and enterprise sectors. 

For more information, visit idemia.com. 

AuthenTrend Builds Infineon Secure Element into Biometric FIDO Access Card  

AuthenTrend and Infineon Technologies have partnered to advance secure, user-friendly and phishing-resistant digital identities by integrating Infineon’s proven chip security into AuthenTrend’s ATKey.Card NFC and other FIDO security keys. The ATKey.Card NFC, shaped like a credit card, enables passwordless, contactless authentication through NFC and features match-on-card fingerprint biometrics with anti-spoofing, plus a CC EAL6+ secure element. Supported by Idex Biometrics technology, the card is designed to be convenient, energy-efficient, and easy to use in daily workflows. AuthenTrend recommends it for enterprise logins, CIAM, healthcare access and IT security, positioning the device as a practical solution for accelerating adoption of FIDO authentication. 

For more information, visit infineon.com. 

Mastercard Launches Biometric Cards  

Biometrics entered the mainstream with Apple’s 2013 launch of TouchID, paving the way for wider use in payments and identity verification. Now, Mastercard is advancing the technology with a next-generation biometric payment card that integrates a fingerprint reader directly into the card alongside EMV chip technology. Designed initially for government benefit distribution to combat fraud, the card authenticates users at the point of sale without a PIN, matching their fingerprint to stored data and reducing fraud without requiring POS upgrades. Trials in South Africa, Europe and Asia are underway, with full rollout expected later this year. Mastercard sees applications ranging from government programs to premium banking portfolios, with plans for remote registration to broaden accessibility. 

For more information, visit mastercard.com. 

STMicroelectronics Launches STPay-Topaz-2 SoC 

STMicroelectronics has launched the STPay-Topaz-2, a next-generation system-on-chip (SoC) for contactless payment cards. The new solution improves compatibility across various payment brands, simplifies inventory management and features auto-tuning for reliable performance with any payment terminal. It also delivers enhanced cryptographic capabilities to meet rising security standards in the payments industry. 

For more information, visit st.com.