The bank said that Gemalto’s unique optical smart card reader provides VKB’s online customers improved security and convenience, without installing any additional software and it reads directly on the personal computer screen, the tablet or the mobile device.

The Ezio Edge Optic reader will be provided to all VKB customers at branch offices and is also in compliance with the latest banking standards in Austria.

The portable device needs to place in front of the screen and the securely encoded transaction data needed for verification and transaction signature generation that are displayed on the screen are instantly read, claims Gemalto.

After completion of the verification, consumers can easily and securely perform online transactions including money transfer and payments.

VKB-Bank payments transaction head Klemens Minichberger said the Ezio Edge Optic is perfectly suited to meet the bank’s need to widely expand the possibility to sign transactions, while guaranteeing the convenience of Internet banking.

"Its unrivaled portability and user-friendliness will make a real difference in increasing our customers’ confidence, thus encouraging adoption," Minichberger added.