
eKYC: Transforming ID Verification for Enhanced Security and A Seamless Customer Experience

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Governments have mandated various businesses, including financial institutions, to thoroughly understand their clientele worldwide to comply with regulations. These regulations, called Know Your Customer (KYC), aim to detect and prevent financial crimes such as money laundering.
The fundamental requirement of KYC is identity verification, which entails ensuring that customers are genuinely who they claim to be. In the past, IDV involved scrutinising information provided through physical forms and documents. However, with the increasing digitisation of the world, KYC policies and practices have had to adapt to meet customer expectations and address risks associated with digital interactions. Thus, electronic KYC (eKYC) came to the rescue.
Electronic KYC is the digital method of verifying identity and other necessary KYC obligations. The approach may vary based on industry, business requirements, and customer preferences. However, it generally encompasses using electronic forms, digital records, and different levels of automation. Similar to conventional KYC procedures, eKYC is typically carried out during the initial account opening process and is subsequently maintained on an ongoing basis.
eKYC has the potential to provide businesses with a more comprehensive understanding of their customers’ identities. This is due to the broader range of data and indicators that eKYC can leverage, surpassing what is typically available in traditional KYC procedures. Conventional KYC relies on active indicators, such as Personally Identifiable Information (PII) the user provides and third-party data from watchlist reports. However, eKYC combines these with passive indicators and behavioural signals that are challenging to assess through manual review of physical forms and documents.
Active indicators comprise information directly provided by the individual, including but not limited to:
Furthermore, active indicators encompass any submitted documents and photos, such as government-issued IDs, bank statements, selfies, etc. In addition to the transition towards eKYC, governments like India and Estonia have introduced electronic identification forms, serving the same purpose as physical IDs. Although the concept of eID has yet to gain widespread acceptance at the federal level in the United States, several states have embraced it. States such as Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, and Hawaii, accept digital driver’s licences, which can be securely stored in an app or even an Apple wallet, depending on the state’s provisions.
Third-party data refers to signals not directly or indirectly provided by the individual but rather obtained from external sources such as government entities, private enterprises, and authoritative databases. These datasets encompass various types, including:
During the account opening process, third-party data is typically collected in the background, allowing businesses to enhance their understanding of customers without creating additional obstacles to the KYC process. Furthermore, many companies regularly cross-reference customer profiles with these sources to ensure the individual’s status remains unchanged.
Passive signals, also known as device signals, are derived from the device that individuals use to undergo the KYC process. These signals are typically obtained in the background without the individual’s awareness. They encompass various data points, including:
Passive signals play a crucial role in online KYC as they enable digital verification and cross-referencing of the information provided actively by the individual with the data passively provided by the device. For instance, if someone claims to be in California, but their IP address indicates they are currently in Florida, further investigation may be warranted to ensure their authenticity.
Behavioural signals are derived directly from the actions of individuals as they engage with online forms or applications. Generally, individuals are unaware that their behavioural signals are being monitored, assessed, and analysed. Examples of behavioural signs encompass:
Behavioural signals serve a range of purposes, for example, analysing behavioural data can assist in distinguishing between genuine human users and automated bots when completing a form or application. Similarly, it can contribute to detecting potential identity theft cases, such as when a form is conducted suspiciously. Consequently, behavioural signals, like passive signals, hold significant importance within the domain of eKYC.
eKYC offers numerous advantages, primarily due to its ability to leverage automation more than manual identity verification processes by human personnel.
For customers, the benefits include:
For companies, these benefits include:
Shufti Pro offers eKYC solutions to 230+ countries and territories and supports 150+ languages, helping businesses keep scammers away and comply with regulations.
Here’s what makes Shufti Pro’s eKYC solution stand out:Â
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