Abstract: These and other objects of the invention are accomplished by providing a fingerprint identification credit/debit card system where a bitmap generated from a scan of the user's finger, in combination with a user selected and changeable PIN, is the only data associated with the card. The bitmap, or an electronic representation thereof, is stored on the credit/debit card, as well as in the card issuer computer system. The PIN is stored only on the card issuer computer system. When the user presents the card to a merchant or service provider, the bitmap stored on the card is input using an appropriate input device which may be a magnetic card reader, a scanner, or a device capable of receiving data from an electronic chip, and transmitted to the card issuer computer system for verification and authorization. The user manually inputs the PIN using an associated keypad.