Regional lender Suruga Bank will in June become the first Japanese bank to introduce a biometrics-based savings account.
The identity of account holders will be verified on the basis of palm-vein patterns.
The introduction of the new account, titled the Bio Security Deposit, is designed to prevent those who steal bankbooks, seals or cash cards from withdrawing money, the bank said.
With the new type of account, "absolutely nobody other than the account holder will be able to withdraw deposits," a Suruga spokesman said.
Other banks may follow suit to forestall a surge in the number of crimes associated with bank deposits, observers say.
Suruga Bank, based in Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, said it decided to use palm-vein patterns for personal verification in view of the fact that these patterns are distinct for each individual.
When customers want to withdraw savings, they hold their palms over a special reader.