DBS to pilot SingPass facial verification technology for signing up of banking services

DBS has partnered with the Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech) to pilot the latter’s innovative SingPass Face Verification technology.

The technology will enable Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents to sign up for DBS’ digital banking services from their homes, with instant access to their bank accounts and banking services. 

DBS/POSB customers who are keen to sign up for DBS/POSB digibank via the SingPass Face Verification can download the digibank mobile app via Apple App Store, Google Play or Huawei App Gallery.

To begin the registration process, customers need to select the identity type and enter the corresponding information.

DBS has partnered with the GovTech to pilot the latter’s innovative SingPass Face Verification technology, to enable Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents to sign up for DBS’ digital banking services from their homes, with instant access to their bank accounts and banking services. . Photo courtesy: DBS

They can then select the “SingPass Face Verification” option and follow the instructions to take the selfie. The tool will scan the user’s face, which will be matched against their latest NRIC/Passport photo records from the Government’s biometric database instantly.

Upon successful matching, DBS will send an SMS-OTP to the user’s registered mobile number for verification, after which the user may create his/her preferred digibank credentials. Users should not disclose their personal details to others, including digibank credentials, DBS said.

This pilot programme aims to benefit more than one million DBS customers who are SingPass holders and do not use digital banking services – of which over 60 per cent are seniors aged 62 and above.

In a press statement, DBS also noted that there had been a rise in digital banking in Singapore amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Amid one of the greatest disruptions ever witnessed in our time, we are more cognisant than ever about the importance of leveraging digital technology to quickly serve up solutions that benefit the wider public,” said Jeremy Soo, Head of Consumer Banking Group (Singapore) at DBS Bank.

Kok Ping Soon, Chief Executive, GovTech, added, “We are delighted to partner leading digital bank DBS in piloting SingPass face verification for simpler customer journeys. We look forward to building more impactful services with the financial sector and beyond, to bring greater convenience to our citizens.”