[sliverstorm]

They are a little dated these days of course, but off the top of my head fingerprints are used for banking, old fashioned wire transfers, and passports. They want to be able to connect you to those things, and the fingerprint was the private key signature [1] of the 20th century.

Which, IMO, isn't "so 1984" because those are historically all major fraud avenues.

[1]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_signature

[patio11]

off the top of my head fingerprints are used for banking, old fashioned wire transfers, and passports

Fingerprints are not routinely collected in the United States to open bank accounts, send or receive wire transfers, or request passports.

[sliverstorm]

Has policy changed? I could swear I had to give a fingerprint last time I opened a bank account in person, and when I got my passport. I suppose that was fifteen years ago...

[tptacek]

I have never given a fingerprint to open a bank account.

[georgemcbay]

The only time I've ever been fingerprinted is for a license renewal at the California DMV, and I have a passport, a bank account, etc.

AFAIK there has never been a fingerprint requirement for US passports.

[aburan28]

I have never given fingerprints to open a bank account

[mikecb]

Many banks will request a fingerprint to cash a check if you do not have a preexisting relationship with the bank.