The Asia United Bank said it would integrate the system with its eVerify banking service to allow customers to open bank accounts by presenting their national identification cards issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The national ID eVerify provides users with a suite of verification tools, including facial recognition and real-time data verification.
"This means when a potential customer already registered with the PSA's national ID system opens a new account with AUB, they will no longer be required to present two valid IDs and fill out forms," AUB chief compliance officer Claire dela Rosa said.
"Your face is your ID. So you need to look at the camera on the iPad in our branch for facial recognition and have a liveness test," Dela Rosa said.
The national ID has a feature called the ID check, which can verify the authenticity of any format of the national ID, including the digital national ID, by scanning the quick response (QR) code feature.
AUB was the first bank to be integrated into the PSA's eVerify system.
After receiving its PSA accreditation as a "Relying Party" on Jan. 31, 2024, and becoming the first local bank to receive a security token from the PSA last July 30, 2024, AUB has been using the eVerify system for its electronic Know Your Customer (KYC) identity verification.
This means the bank no longer requires customers to present a physical identification card when opening an account on its e-wallet HelloMoney as eVerify features advanced facial recognition technology for real-time matching of an individual's face, among other registered information, with the national ID registry.
After HelloMoney, AUB also plans to integrate eVerify with its branch banking service.
Dela Rosa said the eVerify system can also be used for over-the-counter cash withdrawals, eliminating the need for signatures as proof of authorization or a one-time password for mobile banking transactions.
She added that eVerify also helps banks prevent identity fraud by using "your face as your identity" technology.
"Your identity cannot be verified if you do not have the correct biometrics and did not go through the liveness test. It's the best security measure the Philippines have so far," she added.
Dela Rosa said Filipinos no longer have to wait for the delivery of their physical cards. The digital ID now gives access to open accounts and perform various bank-related transactions, thus increasing bank lending activities and promoting financial inclusion.
"We take pride in being one of the early adopters of the national ID system, as this pioneering initiative supports AUB's aspiration to become the Digital Partner of Choice, advocating for open collaboration and helping others share in our success and responsibility to deliver financial inclusion," AUB President Manuel Gomez said.
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