Legal requirements to verify a bank account: KYC & AML

Legal requirements to verify a bank account - Alice Biometrics

In today’s digital world, where financial transactions are increasingly conducted over the Internet, identity verification has become critical for financial institutions. The verification process of a bank account implies certain legal requirements that must be met to guarantee security and confidence in transactions.

What is KYC and AML?

Before we dive into the legal requirements, it is important to understand two fundamental concepts: Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML).

KYC is a process that allows financial institutions to get to know their customers holistically. This means collecting and verifying the customer’s personal and financial information to ensure the customer’s identity and assess the risks associated with the business relationship.

On the other hand, AML refers to the policies and procedures implemented to prevent and detect money laundering and terrorist financing activities. These illegal activities can have negative consequences for both financial institutions and society in general.

Legal requirements for bank account verification

The legal requirements for bank account verification may vary by country and jurisdiction. However, there are some common aspects that are important to keep in mind:

1. Customer identification

In order to verify a bank account, it is necessary to collect and verify the customer’s personal information, such as their full name, address, date of birth, and personal identification number, among other relevant data. This information can be requested through documents such as passport, ID or driver’s license.

2. Proof of address

In addition to personal identification, financial institutions also often require proof of address to verify the client’s residence. These proofs may include utility bills, bank statements, rental agreements, or other documents showing the address provided by the customer.

3. Verification of economic activity

In some cases, especially when it comes to business bank accounts, it is necessary to verify the economic activity of the client. This involves collecting information about the company, its legal structure, its shareholders and beneficial owners, as well as supporting documentation of business transactions.

4. Risk analysis

As part of the verification process, financial institutions must perform a risk analysis to assess the possibility of money laundering or terrorist financing in relation to the customer. This analysis may include consulting international sanctions lists, reviewing suspicious or unusual activities, and applying models and algorithms to detect customer behavior patterns.

It is important to highlight that compliance with legal requirements is not only necessary to avoid legal and reputational risks, but also to contribute to building a safer and more reliable society.

The importance of having a remote identity verification solution

In the digital age, having a remote identity verification solution has become essential for financial institutions. These solutions allow you to verify a bank account efficiently and safely, complying with established legal requirements.

A suitable remote identity verification solution should offer several key functionalities:

1. Capture and verification of documents

The possibility of capturing and verifying identity documents, such as passports or IDs, remotely is essential. This makes it possible to speed up the verification process and reduce geographical barriers.

2. Biometric validation

Biometric validation, through functions such as facial recognition, makes it possible to confirm the authenticity of the customer’s identity. This helps prevent the use of forged documents or identity theft.

3. Automated analysis

The implementation of algorithms and automated analysis models can facilitate the verification process and speed up the detection of possible risks. This includes the detection of forged documents, the analysis of behavior patterns and the instant consultation of sanctions lists.

In summary, the verification of a bank account implies complying with legal requirements related to customer identification, proof of address, verification of economic activity and risk analysis. Having an adequate remote identity verification solution is essential to meet these requirements efficiently and securely.

Do not hesitate to contact us to discover how our bank account verification solution can help you comply with legal requirements and improve the security of your transactions.

Contact us - Alice

If you liked it, share it on