New Users
Home
Analysts & Consultants
People
Channel Advantage
Products
Technology
Case Studies
Awards
About This Guide
United Bankers’ Bank
Background: United Bankers’ Bank (UBB) was founded by community bankers in 1975 to become the nation’s first bankers’ bank. Today, UBB is one of the largest correspondent banks in the Federal Reserve’s 9th District. This market encompasses more than 1,200 community banks and stretches over seven states (Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Montana, Wyoming and Iowa). UBB is owned by United Bankers' Bancorporation, Inc. Over 250 shareholder banks with combined assets of more than $7.8 billion have invested in UBB.
Challenges: The United Bankers’ Bank has over 1000 bank relationships, 500 checking account banking customers and a total of about 2,500 end-users who require secure access to Web-based banking transactions. UBB wanted to safeguard account information accessed by employees and its customers. They were concerned that passwords were too weak an authentication method for protecting confidential data accessed online, particularly by member community banks. Users also needed to be authenticated to initiate checking transactions, especially the wiring of money, through correspondent accounts. UBB was experiencing a high volume of support calls from both internal employees and bank-client customers whose passwords had expired or were forgotten. Additionally, long before the FFIEC formed its guidance, UBB saw the “writing on the wall.” They knew that a multi-factor authentication system was needed to both comply with future regulations and to create a tight policy that ensures secure authentication.
Challenges: The United Bankers’ Bank has over 1000 bank relationships, 500 checking account banking customers and a total of about 2,500 end-users who require secure access to Web-based banking transactions. UBB wanted to safeguard account information accessed by employees and its customers. They were concerned that passwords were too weak an authentication method for protecting confidential data accessed online, particularly by member community banks. Users also needed to be authenticated to initiate checking transactions, especially the wiring of money, through correspondent accounts. UBB was experiencing a high volume of support calls from both internal employees and bank-client customers whose passwords had expired or were forgotten.
Additionally, long before the FFIEC formed its guidance, UBB saw the “writing on the wall.” They knew that a multi-factor authentication system was needed to both comply with future regulations and to create a tight policy that ensures secure authentication.
“We were looking for a system that provided a maximum level of protection, was easy to use, and was cost efficient. Not only has Digital Persona’s product fulfilled these requirements, but it has performed flawlessly.”
William C. Rosacker, President of United Bankers’ Bank
Issues: Before UBB deployed Digital Persona’s solutions, they relied on passwords to control access to their systems and confidential resources. The use of mere passwords was a constant vulnerability, since passwords can be shared, written down, or otherwise compromised, making them a significant security risk. UBB needed a solution that would remove this risk and truly secure their confidential data. UBB also anticipated the need for multi-factor authentication to protect their information, before the FFIEC guideline was issued. They knew that several layers of authentication were necessary for handling confidential information without risk.
Issues: Before UBB deployed Digital Persona’s solutions, they relied on passwords to control access to their systems and confidential resources. The use of mere passwords was a constant vulnerability, since passwords can be shared, written down, or otherwise compromised, making them a significant security risk. UBB needed a solution that would remove this risk and truly secure their confidential data.
UBB also anticipated the need for multi-factor authentication to protect their information, before the FFIEC guideline was issued. They knew that several layers of authentication were necessary for handling confidential information without risk.
Solution provided by Digital Persona: After much research into the various authentication options including smart cards, tokens, and biometric technologies, UBB chose Digital Persona’s fingerprint authentication solution for its superior reliability. Digital Persona’s solution quickly became an important component in UBB’s security system. UBB integrated DigitalPersona Pro Server with Active Directory to provide single sign-on security control and password management for workstations on the network. With the simple touch of a finger, an authorized UBB employee automatically logs in and is authenticated without having to type in their password or account information. UBB customers are provided secure authentication abilities through DigitalPersona Online. Bank-clients log-in and authenticate transactions via a fingerprint instead of a password. UBB now has the assurance that the person who requests a wire transfer, accesses bank statements, or performs other confidential activities truly is the person authorized to do so. UBB’s use of Digital Persona’s solution gives them a multi-factor authentication system that was in compliance with FFIEC standards long before the guidance was sent out. By using the username, fingerprint, sensor ID, and IP characteristics of the users, UBB is compliant with security regulations.
Solution provided by Digital Persona: After much research into the various authentication options including smart cards, tokens, and biometric technologies, UBB chose Digital Persona’s fingerprint authentication solution for its superior reliability. Digital Persona’s solution quickly became an important component in UBB’s security system.
UBB integrated DigitalPersona Pro Server with Active Directory to provide single sign-on security control and password management for workstations on the network. With the simple touch of a finger, an authorized UBB employee automatically logs in and is authenticated without having to type in their password or account information.
UBB customers are provided secure authentication abilities through DigitalPersona Online. Bank-clients log-in and authenticate transactions via a fingerprint instead of a password. UBB now has the assurance that the person who requests a wire transfer, accesses bank statements, or performs other confidential activities truly is the person authorized to do so.
UBB’s use of Digital Persona’s solution gives them a multi-factor authentication system that was in compliance with FFIEC standards long before the guidance was sent out. By using the username, fingerprint, sensor ID, and IP characteristics of the users, UBB is compliant with security regulations.
“We got this as a way to authenticate our end users and to know our customers are actually who they say they are. When we move the wire transfer system over to the web we want to make sure that the person approving a wire and creating a wire is the person they say they are. Passwords can be shared, tokens can be shared, smart cards can be shared. The fingerprint was one of the few technologies that assures you really know who they are.”
Daren Mehl, Assistant Vice President, Information Technology at United Bankers’ Bank
Summary: The deployment of Digital Persona’s fingerprint solution made an immediate impact on UBB practices. The IT person no longer has to reset passwords which had been taking up too much of his time. Adding Digital Persona’s solution to create a multi-factor authentication environment has provided FFIEC compliance for UBB.
Digital Persona, Inc. 720 Bay Road Redwood City, CA 94063 USA Tel: 1-650-474-4000
Download the complete case study From Info Security Products Guide site: CLICK HERE
Recommend this to others:
HOME |
ADVERTISE WITH US |
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF |
UPDATED PRIVACY POLICY |
Copyright © 2006 Silicon Valley Communications - All rights reserved.
