• BT Pay users will be able to shop using biometric authentication or their phone’s unlock method.
• From now on, the BT Pay app can also be installed on Android phones that do not have built-in NFC technology.

Banca Transilvania is replacing the way online payments are authenticated for customers who use the BT Pay app, so instead of the SMS code used until now, users will be able to make purchases with biometric authentication (fingerprint, facial recognition) or by using their phone’s unlock method.

The bank is rolling out this feature gradually, and the option to confirm online payments is activated automatically with the next app update.

“Launching the new way to confirm online payments with BT Pay continues the developments we’ve already brought to the app, making it a complete payment experience. I’d highlight the most important one—especially as it was launched in April to support remote banking: the digital card, which gives BT Pay customers access to their money before they receive the physical card, as well as details such as the card number, expiry date and CVV. With the new ways to confirm online payments, and with all this information at hand on the phone, online transactions are faster for customers, whether they’re shopping or paying utilities, taxes and fees.” – Oana Ilas, Executive Director, Retail Products Management & Development, Banca Transilvania.

Steps to make an online payment:

• Complete your online order by selecting the products you want;
• Enter your card details, which can also be taken from BT Pay/Card details;
• A secure page opens, waiting for the payment to be confirmed;
• Receive a notification on your phone showing the last 4 digits of the card used for payment, the merchant name and the amount to be paid;
• Tap the notification and confirm the payment with your fingerprint or using your phone’s unlock method;
• Return to the online store page and follow the order through to completion.

This method of payment authentication complies with the Payment Services Directive (PSD2) and meets the requirements for strong customer authentication.

3D Secure is an international security standard for online payments, offering additional protection for cardholders and helping reduce e-commerce fraud.

Another new feature in BT Pay, aimed at making it accessible to as many customers as possible, especially as in-app confirmation of online payments is launched, is that the app can also be downloaded on Android phones that do not have NFC technology built in. Users will have access to all the app’s functionalities except contactless payments by phone at merchants’ POS terminals, which require NFC.