JP Morgan Chase has informed employees relocating to its new multibillion-dollar headquarters in New York that they will be required to share their biometric data in order to enter the building.

The new mandate marks a shift from the bank’s earlier plan, which had made biometric registration voluntary. Internal emails seen by The Financial Times reveal that employees who began working at the Manhattan skyscraper in August were told biometric access was now “required.”

Under the new system, staff must scan their fingerprints or eyes at security gates in the lobby, replacing the traditional use of ID badges. The $3 billion (£2.25 billion) skyscraper will eventually accommodate around 10,000 employees once fully operational later this year.

Exceptions and voluntary use in other offices

Some employees are reportedly exempt and can still access the building using badges, though the criteria for exemptions remain unclear.

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Biometric registration is understood to remain voluntary at other JP Morgan offices, including in London, where optional handprint scanners were recently introduced at its Bank Street premises.

The technology encrypts each employee’s biometric data, ensuring the company itself cannot directly access it, similar to how Apple’s Face ID stores encrypted facial data on individual devices.

The rollout of biometric systems coincides with the launch of JP Morgan’s new “Work at JPMC” mobile app, a digital badge and services platform for employees. The app enables staff to manage guest access, navigate indoor maps, and pre-order meals from any of the building’s 19 on-site dining venues.

Heightened security concerns in New York

The move comes as major US corporations, particularly those based in New York, tighten security protocols following recent high-profile incidents.

The introduction of biometric access also revives debates over employer surveillance and worker privacy. US firms have increasingly turned to digital tools to monitor attendance and enforce in-office mandates. Earlier this year, JP Morgan instructed all hybrid employees to return to the office five days a week.

JP Morgan’s chief executive, Jamie Dimon, has called the new 60-story tower a “beautiful physical manifestation” of the company’s strength and values. One of the most influential figures in global banking, Dimon this week also cautioned that the likelihood of a major US stock-market crash was “far greater” than many in the financial world believe.

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