Systems and Methods for Use in Authenticating Individuals, in Connection With Providing Access to the Individuals

A computer-implemented method for authenticating a user to provide access to the user, the computer-implemented method comprising:

• capturing, at a portable communication device, a biometric from a user relating to a desired access;
• comparing the captured biometric to a reference biometric stored in memory of the portable communication device;
• and
• transmitting, by the portable communication device, an authentication signal to at least one computing device, the authentication signal including an identifier associated with the user, when the captured biometric matches the reference biometric, to thereby provide the user access to the at least one computing device and/or a secure item associated with the at least one computing device different than the portable communication device.

A non-transitory computer readable storage media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

• compare a biometric of a user, received at a portable communication device, to at least one reference biometric;
• authenticate the user and permit access, for the user, to at least one of the portable communication devices and an application at the portable communication device, when the biometric of the user matches at least one reference biometric;
• decline access to the user, to at least one of the portable communication devices and an application at the portable communication device, when the received biometric does not match at least one reference biometric;
• and
• transmit, from the portable communication device, an authentication signal, whereby the user is able to access a different computing device receiving the transmitted authentication signal, without separately authenticating the user at the different computing device.