Global payment leader Visa has partnered with fintech firm Keyno and Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) to roll out an innovative tap-powered identity verification solution, eliminating the need for traditional passwords and one-time passcodes for card setup and user authentication.
Dubbed Tap to Confirm and Tap to Activate, the new system leverages the embedded EMV chip on every Visa card, paired with the company’s proprietary Chip Authenticate service, to complete identity checks directly through banking mobile applications. The first deployment of the technology is already live on Fidelity Bank (Bahamas)’s mobile platform, FIDSECURE, marking the first real-world adoption of this new authentication method.
The core design goal of the solution is to cut the finance industry’s long-standing dependence on vulnerable SMS verification codes, time-consuming call centre authentication checks, and clunky manual card activation workflows. As digital commerce continues to expand rapidly across the globe, reliable, user-friendly identity verification has become one of the most pressing pain points for retail banks and payment providers, Visa noted in its official launch announcement. The system turns every physical Visa card into a trusted digital identity credential, requiring only a simple tap of the card against a user’s mobile device to complete verification within the bank’s app.
Beyond new card activation, the tap-based system can also be deployed to secure higher-risk account actions, including password resets, changes to registered mailing addresses, large-value fund transfers, and adjustments to personal account spending limits. Visa emphasizes that the solution delivers robust EMV-level security, widely regarded as one of the most secure card authentication standards globally, while cutting down on the unnecessary friction that frustrates users during traditional verification processes.
Mike Romero, head of digital solutions for Visa’s Latin America and Caribbean division, explained that the company built the new tool by leveraging its existing global payment infrastructure to make identity checks both more convenient and more secure for consumers and financial institutions alike. “With tap authentication, Visa is transforming the card in your wallet into a secure, intuitive identity credential,” Romero said.
Robert J Steinman, chief executive officer of Keyno, added that the cross-industry collaboration between the three partners is focused on reimagining digital banking as a more accessible, secure, and trusted experience that only requires a single tap to work. Following the successful initial launch with Fidelity Bank Bahamas, Visa plans to roll out the tap-based verification system to more partner financial institutions globally starting in 2026.