eidas kyc in the Digital Age of Banking and Identity Verification

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The European Union's eIDAS regulation has brought significant changes to the way we think about identity verification and Know Your Customer (KYC) processes in the digital age of banking.

The eIDAS regulation requires financial institutions to use electronic identification and trust services, making it easier for customers to verify their identities online.

In the past, KYC processes were often cumbersome and time-consuming, involving lengthy paperwork and manual checks. This is no longer the case with the implementation of eIDAS.

The regulation has introduced a range of electronic identification methods, such as electronic identity cards and mobile IDs, which can be used for KYC purposes.

What Is eIDAS KYC

eIDAS KYC is a regulatory requirement that ensures the accuracy and reliability of customer information. It's a crucial aspect of anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) regulations.

The eIDAS regulation requires that financial institutions verify the identity of their customers through a robust KYC process. This process involves collecting and verifying customer data, such as their name, address, and date of birth.

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The KYC process must be carried out in accordance with the eIDAS regulation, which sets out specific requirements for the collection, storage, and sharing of customer data. This includes the use of secure and standardized methods for collecting and verifying customer information.

Financial institutions must also be able to provide evidence of the KYC process they have carried out, in case of an audit or investigation. This includes keeping records of the customer's identification documents and the results of any verification checks.

The eIDAS regulation also requires that financial institutions implement robust security measures to protect customer data from unauthorized access or theft. This includes the use of encryption and secure protocols for data transmission.

Digital Onboarding

Digital onboarding has become a crucial aspect of the digital identity verification process. In the United States alone, 64% of primary checking account openings were done online in Q2 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the shift towards digital channels and apps, with customers and banks relying more heavily on them. This trend is expected to continue even after the pandemic, as shown in a recent study from Visa and BAI.

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For a seamless digital onboarding experience, businesses need to focus on mobile-first development and create user-friendly onboarding experiences. This includes leveraging biometrics through online and mobile channels to adapt to customer preferences.

A digital ID verification process enables banks to automatically capture customer demographic data, which can be integrated into enterprise systems like CRM. This streamlines the customer onboarding process and allows for further due diligence and risk assessment.

To achieve this, financial institutions can invest in digital onboarding, including video KYC (video identification), and leverage biometrics through online and mobile channels. This can include features such as biometric verification, ID card verification, liveness detection, and NFC ID verification.

Here are some benefits of using digital onboarding:

  • Improved safety & security
  • Faster customer onboarding
  • Easy to implement via SDK or API
  • Automated data extraction
  • Fraud prevention through biometric checks, and EXIF data analysis

By implementing digital onboarding, businesses can reduce the risk of identity theft and money laundering, while also enhancing the customer experience.

Importance and Benefits

Implementing eIDAS and KYC regulations can grant you multiple benefits, including improved safety and security, faster customer onboarding, and easy implementation via SDK or API.

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Organizations that comply with eIDAS regulations may have a competitive advantage in the marketplace, as they are able to offer electronic services that are trusted and widely accepted.

Compliance with eIDAS can help organizations protect themselves and their customers from fraud and other types of online crime, while also meeting legal requirements, increasing security and reliability, and gaining competitive advantages and customer trust.

Here are some key benefits of eIDAS and KYC compliance:

  • Improved safety & security
  • Faster customer onboarding
  • Easy to implement via SDK or API
  • Automated data extraction
  • Fraud prevention through biometric checks, and EXIF data analysis

In fact, non-compliance can result in heavy penalties, with a cumulated USD26 billion in fines levied for non-compliance with AML, KYC, and sanctions fines in the past ten years (2008-2018).

What Is the Process Important

The process of identity verification is crucial in establishing trust and security, especially in online transactions. Integrating a Know Your Customer (KYC) step into an electronic signature process ensures the integrity of the signatory and creates a trusting environment.

This process is especially important in financial services, where users must provide personal information to open an online bank account. Only when their identity has been validated can they open a bank account.

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Biometric verification, ID card verification, liveness detection, and NFC ID verification are all key features of a reliable identity verification process. These features can be found in software like Klippa's Automated Identity Verification.

The eIDAS regulation provides the legal framework and standards for electronic identification and trust services, enabling companies like Onfido to offer services that are recognized and trusted across the EU.

Why Is the Process Important?

The KYC process is essential for preventing and identifying money laundering, terrorism financing, and other illegal corruption schemes. It's a crucial step in ensuring that customers are real and assessing risks.

In the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia Pacific, a cumulative $26 billion in fines have been levied for non-compliance with AML, KYC, and sanctions fines over the past ten years (2008-2018). That's a staggering amount, and it highlights the importance of getting it right.

The KYC process includes ID card verification, face verification, document verification, and biometric verification. These measures help prevent identity theft and money laundering.

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Stricter KYC/CDD processes are helping to stop criminals from laundering between $1.6 to $4 trillion annually, which is 2 to 5% of global GDP. That's a significant reduction in illicit activities.

Here are some reasons why organizations need to comply with eIDAS:

  • Legal requirements
  • Security and reliability
  • Competitive advantages
  • Customers' trust

These are the main reasons why organizations need to comply with eIDAS regulations. By doing so, they can protect themselves and their customers from fraud and other types of online crime.

Compliance with eIDAS can help organizations gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Companies that are compliant with eIDAS regulations may have a trusted and widely accepted electronic services, which can help attract and retain customers.

In the fight against identity theft, KYC plays a crucial role. It helps prevent identity fraud and money laundering, and establishes a level of trust within the service.

Documents

In the context of eIDAS KYC, documents play a crucial role in verifying the identity of customers. KYC checks are done through an independent and reliable source of documents, data, or information. Each client is required to provide credentials to prove identity and address.

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The U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) added a new requirement for banks to verify the identity of natural persons of legal entity customers who own, control, and profit from companies when those organizations open accounts. This means that corporate companies must provide Social Security numbers and copies of a photo ID and passports for their employees, board members, and shareholders.

For digital ID verification, a process involving verifying that an identity document is genuine or authenticating the document holder through biometric checks such as facial or fingerprint checks is used. This process enables banks to automatically capture customer demographic data, which can be integrated into enterprise systems like CRM.

The following documents are typically required for KYC verification:

  • Photo ID
  • Passport
  • Social Security number

These documents are used to prove the identity and address of the customer, and to conduct further due diligence and risk assessment. Financial institutions must also maintain records on transactions and information obtained through Customer Due Diligence measures.

Facial Recognition and Digital Onboarding

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Facial recognition technology has become a crucial part of digital onboarding, especially in the banking sector. In the United States, 64% of primary checking account openings were done online in Q2 2020, and this trend is expected to continue.

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift to digital channels, and banks are now investing in digital onboarding, including video KYC and biometrics. Facial recognition is used for KYC onboarding online, providing a convenient and secure way for customers to open accounts.

During the identification process, a selfie is usually taken, and the software provides a liveness detection feature to prevent spoofing attacks using a static image. This ensures that the selfie comes from a live person.

A digital ID verification process enables banks to automatically capture customer demographic data, which can be integrated into enterprise systems. This streamlines the customer onboarding process and conducts further due diligence and risk assessment.

Here are some benefits of digital onboarding with facial recognition:

  • Streamlined customer onboarding process
  • Conducted further due diligence and risk assessment
  • Review for PEPs (Politically Exposed Persons)
  • Automated capture of customer demographic data

The use of facial recognition technology is not limited to banking; it's also used in cryptocurrency trading apps. Financial institutions can leverage biometrics through online and mobile channels to adapt to customer preferences.

Compliance Requirements

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Compliance with eIDAS is not optional, it's a must for organizations operating within the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA). These regions include Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.

Businesses of all sizes, as well as public sector organizations, must comply with eIDAS regulations. This includes banks, insurance companies, online retailers, and other businesses that conduct online transactions.

Organizations must be qualified and recognized by national supervisory authorities to offer their services within the EU and EEA. This ensures that their electronic services are secure and reliable.

Failure to comply with eIDAS regulations can result in financial penalties and legal challenges. This is a serious concern for organizations that operate within these regions.

The main reasons to comply with eIDAS include:

  • Legal requirements
  • Security and reliability
  • Competitive advantages
  • Customers’ trust

Compliance with eIDAS regulations can help organizations protect themselves and their customers from fraud and other types of online crime. It also helps to establish common standards for the security and reliability of electronic identification and trust services.

Electronic Signatures

Credit: youtube.com, Simple Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) and eIDAS

Electronic signatures have the same legal value as a handwritten signature according to Article 1367 of the French Civil Code. This means they are admissible as evidence in court if they meet the conditions of the European Regulation, Electronic Identification and Trust Service (EIDAS) regulation.

Electronic signatures can be classified into three different security levels: advanced, qualified, and basic. Advanced signatures integrate a KYC step into the process, allowing the user to verify that they are who they say they are.

The EIDAS regulation requires identity verification for higher levels of security, such as advanced and qualified signatures. This is done through a KYC process, which defines and verifies the identity of the customer.

A qualified electronic signature (QES) has the highest security level of all e-signatures and is created by a qualified signature creation device. It is based on a qualified certificate for electronic signatures.

The authenticity and integrity of the signed document are guaranteed for both parties, and the identity of the signatory is secured through the KYC process. This is essential for electronic signatures to meet EIDAS requirements.

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A qualified electronic signature or qualified electronic seal (QESeal) is an electronic signature that complies with the eIDAS Regulation of the European Union. It serves as a means of verifying the signer's identity and ensuring that the document has not been tampered with.

In the case of a signature, the party requesting the signature must prove its authenticity, and in the case of a qualified signature, the signatory person must prove their identity was not defrauded.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does eIDAS stand for?

eIDAS stands for electronic identification, authentication, and trust services, a set of services that verify identities and document authenticity. It's a key concept in digital security and identity verification.

How do I comply with eIDAS?

To comply with eIDAS, businesses must adhere to strict requirements for electronic signatures, seals, time stamps, delivery services, and website authentication. By following these guidelines, you can ensure secure and reliable electronic identification and trust services for your organization.

Anne Wiegand

Writer

Anne Wiegand is a seasoned writer with a passion for sharing insightful commentary on the world of finance. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics, Anne has established herself as a trusted voice in the industry. Her articles on "Gold Chart" and "Mining Stocks" have been well-received by readers and industry professionals alike, offering a unique perspective on market trends and investment opportunities.

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