Shell allows customers to pay for petrol with their fingerprints

Chicago (IL) - Shell has begun setting up test stations to allow customers to pay for gasoline by simply touching a biometric scanner with their finger.

Ten Shell locations in Chicago are testing out the new payment system, called "Pay By Touch". Biometric scanners are placed at each pump, as well as at the checkout of the shop.

Customers can register for the payment system by visiting a kiosk inside the shop, which allows you to scan your fingerprint and then link it to a checking account or credit card. The linked payment method can always be changed at the kiosk, or online.

Chris Susse, manager of innovations at Shell, told the Associated Press the system makes paying for petrol faster and more secure. Customers "don’t want to carry more cards, kits and keychains, and they want [the new payment system] to be free," he said.

Local Chicago supermarket Sunflower Market installed Pay By Touch several months ago. Only around 2% of its customers have enrolled for the innovative payment option, reports the AP, mainly because of privacy concerns.

However, Shell says it will not release any information to third parties, and that the Pay By Touch system will conform to its existing privacy policy. The gasoline company says it expects the innovation to drive sales.

"We’d like to see an increase in customer loyalty because we’re the only gas retailer offering this service," said Susse.