Revolut has launched an in-store facial recognition payment system, called Pay with Smile, allowing shoppers to complete transactions with a simple glance. The trial began on Thursday, September 24, at three central London locations.
How Pay with Smile works
The feature is accessible for in-store purchases through a Revolut Register terminal. At participating locations, shoppers select Pay with Smile on a display to undergo a facial identity check, comparable to unlocking a mobile device or entering a banking application. Facial technology authenticates the user's identity by cross-referencing identity verification completed during the customer's Revolut registration to authorise and complete a payment.
Revolut customers must deliberately opt in by activating Revolut Pay with Smile within their Revolut app preferences. The bank confirmed that customers will not be automatically enrolled, and permission can be withdrawn at any point.
Security and merchant benefits
Revolut stated it encrypts facial recognition information end-to-end, and personal details will not be retained by retailers. When verification succeeds and a positive match is confirmed, an account-to-account transaction is approved.
The Revolut Register terminal can also be purchased by retailers from Thursday. Revolut announced it is providing 0% processing charges on Revolut Pay with Smile transactions, which it stated will help alleviate pressures on independent businesses.
Trial locations and rollout plans
Revolut customers in London will initially trial the technology at Kiss the Hippo cafes in Bloomsbury, Chelsea and Soho between September 24 and 26. Alex Codina, general manager of merchant payments at Revolut Business, commented: "By combining high-performance processing with facial recognition technology, we're replacing outdated, fragmented tills with a hyper-efficient checkout experience designed to solve consumer and merchant pain points."
Alex Damgaci, managing director at Kiss the Hippo Coffee, added: "We're looking forward to welcoming guests to try Pay with Smile at our Bloomsbury, Soho and Chelsea cafes before we roll out across all 12 of our cafes later this year."
