JPMorgan Chase has informed staff members moving into its new Manhattan headquarters they will be required to submit their biometric data to enter the building. The policy, to make biometric enrollment mandatory, is a first among major U.S. banks. It has raised concerns over privacy, consent, and the expanding use of surveillance in the workplace, Biometric Update noted. JPMorgan requiring biometric data for staff access to new headquarters https://t.co/OXFmGkcNSq — Financial Times (@FT) October 10, 2025 Biometric Update has more: Internal communications reviewed by the Financial Times and The Guardian confirm that JPMorgan employees assigned to the new building have been told they must enroll their fingerprints or undergo an eye scan to access the premises. Earlier drafts of the plan described the system as voluntary, but reports say that language has quietly disappeared. A company spokesperson declined to clarify how data will be stored or how long it will be retained, citing security concerns. Some staff reportedly may retain the option of using a badge instead, though the criteria for exemption remain undisclosed. The biometric access requirement is being rolled out alongside a Work at JPMC smartphone app that doubles as a digital ID badge and internal service platform, allowing staff to order meals, navigate the building, or register visitors. The bank’s new headquarters, a $3 billion, 60-story tower, will eventually house about 10,000 employees once it’s fully occupied. JP Morgan’s biometric mandate signals new era of workplace surveillance in finance#accesscontrol #biometrics #dataprivacy #digitalID https://t.co/Y2s0sMHi4S — Biometric Update (@BiometricUpdate) October 10, 2025 The Guardian shared further info: Biometric enrolment is understood to remain voluntary at other JP Morgan offices, including London, where voluntary hand biometrics have been introduced at its Bank Street office. This process involves an employee’s hand print being encrypted so the company does not have access to the data. This system operates in a similar fashion to Apple’s Face ID option on iPhones, where the Silicon Valley company cannot access customers’ facial data. Alongside the introduction of palm and eye scanners, the company has also launched the “Work at JPMC” mobile app, which works as a digital badge and hub for employee services. The app allows staff to manage guest registration, navigate indoor maps of the building and pre-order meals from the building’s 19 on-site dining vendors.