CaixaBank, based in Spain, announced the launch of a payments system trial at a Nestle Market, marking the first time that a grocery or retail store uses facial recognition technology in that country, according to a company release.

The payments system, developed with backers of the Payment Innovation Hub, which includes Visa, Samsung, CaixaBank, Global Payments Inc. and Arval, allows customers to pay using biometric identifiers in their faces, without the need for a car or cash. 

The Nestle Market, located in Esplugues de Llobregat, will operate the trial period for three months, in order to determine whether the facial recognition system helps improve customer checkout times, especially during peak demand as the Christmas shopping season begins. 

Customers only need to download the Face to Pay Nestle Mobile mobile app to their phones and checkout at a special line that includes a tablet outfitted with a camera. Customers just need to take a selfie at the checkout camera and the image is compared the same image at the bank. 

CaixaBank says it was the world's first bank to offer ATM withdrawals without a PIN code, which is currently being used in Barcelona and Valencia, Spain, and will expand to other branches in the next few months. 

CaixaBank said it has the largest number of digital customers in Spain with 6.3 million, along with 17.2 million cards and 28% of the number of POS terminal transactions in the country. 

The Payment Innovation Hub recently launched a biometric recognition solution using facial recognition in Barcelona with Vienna, a restaurant services group. 

Cover image: CaixaBank.