Sberbank’s chief executive officer, German Gref, stated that by the close of 2023 a vast network of terminals across Russia would support a payment option that recognizes a smile through facial biometrics. The aim is to let customers settle purchases by simply looking at a device, turning facial data into a secure payment signal.
When asked whether customers of other banks could use this biometrics payment, Gref explained that by year-end hundreds of thousands of terminals would enable biometric payments, initially limited to Sberbank clients as the rollout kicked off. The service would rely on biometric data added to Russia’s Unified Biometric System, allowing users to pay after their face is verified by the system.
Gref noted that the Enterprise Biometric System would not replace existing commercial biometric schemes; instead, it would integrate with the state biometric framework in Russia and globally. The aim is to have a blended ecosystem where both public and private biometric solutions work in tandem for payments.
Currently, Sberbank reports that the EBS is in an active implementation phase. Once completed, the bank expects to broaden access so that customers of other banks can also use biometric payments, subject to future policy and regulatory alignment.
Since early 2023, Sberbank has actively promoted the smile-based payment option. In August, the bank began enabling this payment method at 15,000 self-checkout terminals within X5 Group networks and subsequently extended availability across ABC of Taste stores, signaling a broad retail adoption strategy.
Activating the new payment method in the mobile app involves turning on the facial recognition feature in the user profile, selecting a payment card, and setting a security code. With these steps completed, payments can be confirmed simply by looking at the smartphone camera, making the checkout experience faster and hands-free.
Feedback from Sber customers indicates growing adoption of biometrics for purchases. Since the start of 2023, the Smile Pay initiative has seen more than half a million transactions completed, reflecting heightened user trust and convenience in biometric payments.
Additional context on the rollout and regulatory considerations has been provided in recent discussions within the bank, highlighting ongoing evaluation of security, privacy, and user experience as central to the expansion strategy. The evolution of biometric payments aligns with broader trends in digital wallets, contactless payments, and identity-based commerce, where consumer ease is balanced with robust authentication and fraud prevention measures.
Market observers note that Sberbank’s biometric payment push mirrors similar initiatives globally, where biometric verification is increasingly used to streamline purchases while maintaining strong protections for user data. The company emphasizes that participation remains optional and user-controlled, with clear steps to manage biometric data and payment preferences within the app. As the ecosystem matures, broader participation by other financial institutions could follow, contingent on regulatory guidance and technical interoperability.