(Yicai Global) Sept. 30 -- The Agricultural Bank of China Ltd. (ABC) [SHA:601288; HK:1288] has introduced facial scanning technology for cash withdrawal services at automated teller machines (ATMs) in all of its 1,600 locations in the country's southern Guangdong province, local newspaper Nanfang Daily reported.

The move represents the first time that the bank applied biometric-based authentication at ATMs.

The system verifies a user's identity through a motion-based identification system, cross verification and image recognition, confirming that the user's identity is unique and cannot be duplicated.

The technology allows customers to withdraw cash from an ATM without a bankcard or making an appointment online. Users merely need to insert their identification card number and account PIN, making withdrawals easier.

The facial recognition service has been made available on 3,300 ATMs in the province, with two cash machines on average capable of facial scanning installed at each branch.