The Philippines' largest lender, BDO Unibank Inc., is considering bioemtric verification to increase security for its clients after hackers put millions at risk for identity theft, its president said Friday.

The unprecedented breach on the Commission on Elections database made public on Thursday the addresses and passport numbers of 55 million voters, or around half of the country's population.

BDO President Nestor Tan said the bank's board discussed additional security measures to protest its clients, including biometric verification for accounts.

He declined to discuss the other measures so as not to forewarn identity thieves.

Banks, credit card companies and other financial institutions often use personal data such as birthdays and parents' name to validate their clients' identities.

READ: Stolen Comelec data 'ripe for identity theft'