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The financial institution has notified personnel assigned to its state-of-the-art corporate base in Manhattan that they have to submit their biometric data to access the multi-billion skyscraper.

Shift from Voluntary to Mandatory

The investment bank had originally planned for the collection of physical identifiers at its recently opened skyscraper to be voluntary.

Yet, staff of the US's largest bank who have commenced employment at the main office since last month have obtained communications stating that biometric entry was now "required".

How Biometric Access Works

The new entry system requires employees to submit their eye patterns to gain access security gates in the entrance area rather than using their identification cards.

Building Specifications and Capacity

The corporate tower, which apparently cost $3bn to develop, will ultimately serve as a workplace for thousands of workers once it is entirely staffed later this year.

Security Rationale

JP Morgan opted not to respond but it is understood that the employment of physical identifiers for entry is intended to make the facility better protected.

Special Cases

There are exemptions for certain staff members who will retain the ability to use a traditional pass for entry, although the standards for who will use more traditional ID access remains unclear.

Additional Technological Features

Complementing the deployment of physical identifier systems, the organization has also introduced the "Work at JPMC" smartphone application, which functions as a virtual ID and center for staff resources.

The platform allows users to handle external entry, use indoor maps of the facility and pre-order dining from the facility's multiple on-site dining vendors.

Broader Safety Concerns

The deployment of stricter access protocols comes as US corporations, especially those with significant operations in the city, look to increase security following the attack of the CEO of one of the US's largest health insurers in summer.

Brian Thompson, the leader of UnitedHealthcare, was the victim of the attack not far from the bank's location.

Potential Wider Implementation

It is not known if the banking institution plans to implement the biometric system for staff at its branches in other key banking hubs, such as the British financial district.

Employee Tracking Developments

The move comes amid controversy over the implementation of technology to observe staff by their companies, including tracking physical presence metrics.

Earlier this year, all the bank's employees on mixed remote-office plans were directed they have to report to the physical location five days a week.

Leadership Viewpoint

The organization's head, Jamie Dimon, has characterized the company's state-of-the-art 60-storey headquarters as a "impressive representation" of the organization.

The banker, one of the global financial leaders, lately alerted that the likelihood of the US stock market crashing was far greater than many financiers anticipated.