NAB Launches Biometric Selfies to Enhance Online Account Security

New NAB customers opening accounts or products online will now be required to take a selfie as part of enhanced security protocols aimed at protecting against fraud and scams. This initiative is part of the bank’s broader scam strategy, which addresses issues such as identity theft, where criminals exploit stolen personal information to create fraudulent accounts. In addition to the selfie, new customers must scan an identification document, such as a driver’s licence or passport, and use their mobile phone to match their image to the ID. The selfie verification system employs biometric technology, utilising artificial intelligence-powered liveness detection algorithms to confirm that the applicant is a real person and that their identity document is authentic. If any anomalies are detected, the application is referred to staff for further review before the account is established.

Catherine Macleod, the Executive overseeing the project, stated that over 300 staff from 30 teams contributed to the development of this new onboarding experience, which took 24 months to finalise. She highlighted the focus on both security and user experience throughout the process. The introduction of biometric onboarding represents a significant advancement in safeguarding customers from fraud and scams from the moment they join the bank. The onboarding experience is designed to be fast, secure, and accessible, with AI-powered liveness detection ensuring that the person is genuine and matches their identity document. NAB continues to invest in customer safety through improved experiences, tools, and technology, with plans to expand this process over time. This initiative supports other customer protection measures, such as confirmation of payee in digital banking and payment alerts. 

Categories: Fraud Prevention, Biometric Security, Customer Onboarding 

Tags: Selfie, Security, Fraud, Scams, Identity Theft, Biometric Technology, Liveness Detection, Onboarding Experience, Customer Safety, Digital Banking