Cash Your Check? Put Your Thumb Here

Beginning in December, Texas banks battling fraud will fingerprint non-account holders who want to cash checks.

The program, dubbed Thumbprint Signature, was announced Monday by the Texas Bankers Association, which includes 800 banks.

Non-account holders who want to cash a check will have to apply their right thumb to an inkless fingerprinting device that leaves no ink stains or residue.

Banks will not maintain a database of the prints and they will only be used by law enforcement in cases of suspected fraud, said Robert Harris, president of the association.