<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2025/06/rewards-product-blog-1000.webp" alt="Drive Customer Loyalty &amp; Engagement: Unlock the Power of M2P’s Rewards Stack for Financial Institutions" title="" id="7lyawrf1p" width="100%" height="253">For years, financial institutions (FIs) have built trusted relationships with customers through solid products, bundled services, and traditional rewards. These models have driven familiarity and retention, and they continue to hold value. However, as customer expectations evolved in tandem with the industry, transactional engagement models began to lose relevance.&nbsp;&nbsp;Did you know?&nbsp;India’s loyalty market is expected to grow by 18.3% CAGR, reaching <a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250213552919/en/India-Loyalty-Programs-Market-Intelligence-2025-Cross-Industry-and-Cross-Brand-Loyalty-Partnerships-Competitive-Landscape-Data-Analytics-for-Personalization---Future-Growth-Dynamics-to-2029---ResearchAndMarkets.com" target="_blank">US$3.58 billion by 2025</a>, driven by digital-first, AI-enhanced loyalty programs via mobile wallets and apps.&nbsp;Yes, today’s users interact across platforms and expect experiences that are fast, personal, and relevant. They want real-time engagement and benefits that reflect their lifestyle. With digital-first players gaining traction, the challenge is no longer just about retention; it keeps them actively engaged.&nbsp;Early adopters in the financial sector are already responding to this shift by evolving from static reward programs to intelligent engagement ecosystems that are&nbsp;<ul class="list-node" id="ly1kjb6vc"><li>Instant and intuitive</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="x4yedphz8"><li>Contextual and customized</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="k58urmdd6"><li>Integrated seamlessly across channels</li></ul>This evolution opens the door for FIs to reimagine how they deliver value, beyond products and transactions.&nbsp;That’s where M2P’s Rewards Stack makes a difference, enabling institutions to design personalized engagement experiences that build connections, influence behavior, and deliver long-term value.<h2 class="heading-node" id="rmmy0zg5c" style="text-align: left">Understanding Challenges Behind Rewards Program&nbsp;</h2>Designing a rewards program that truly engages customers isn't just about offering perks. It’s about delivering personalized, high-impact experiences consistently and at scale. Here are some of the key challenges financial institutions often face when implementing or scaling rewards program(s).<ul class="list-node" id="xf5p5t8ci"><li>Low Perceived Value by Users: Customers quickly disengage from programs that feel generic, overly complex, and/or out of reach. If rewards are difficult to earn, irrelevant to their lifestyle, or buried in fine print, users stop paying attention. A program must deliver tangible, lasting value; otherwise, it fades into the background.&nbsp;</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="lt9jd7yw8"><li>Operational Complexity: Behind every rewards program is a maze of logic, workflows, and integrations. Mapping earnings rules, managing redemption processes, aligning with business objectives, and syncing with core banking systems can become overwhelming—especially for tech teams balancing competing priorities.&nbsp;</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="ebdodkpxa"><li>Financial Overheads: Legacy rewards systems often come with heavy infrastructure costs, both upfront and ongoing. The need for constant updates, manual configurations, and partner onboarding adds layers of expense that erode ROI, particularly for smaller or mid-sized institutions trying to stay agile.&nbsp;</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="iquxbj7me"><li>Engagement Fatigue: In a crowded market flooded with offers, customers are desensitized to the usual 'cashback’ and ‘bonus point’ messages. If the program lacks novelty, interactivity, or a sense of progress, users tune out. Keeping engagement fresh requires creativity, agility, and dynamic tooling.&nbsp;</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="uc4cqohwk"><li>Evolving Expectations: What worked well even a year ago may now feel outdated. Customers expect more than transactional rewards: they look for contextual, real-time experiences that feel intuitive and rewarding. A static program simply can’t keep pace with changing behaviors and preferences.&nbsp;</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="yd8qkhgnm"><li>Security &amp; Compliance Risks: As rewards programs become more personalized and data-intensive, they inevitably touch sensitive financial and behavioral information. Ensuring end-to-end security, managing consent, and staying compliant with local regulations isn’t just important; it’s mandatory.</li></ul>These challenges make one thing clear: building a modern rewards experience requires more than a one-size-fits-all solution. It calls for agility, intelligence, and customer-first design.<h2 class="heading-node" id="f1pcjxxq0" style="text-align: left">How M2P’s Rewards Stack Elevates Customer Engagement</h2>M2P’s Rewards Stack equips&nbsp;financial institutions (FIs) with a future-ready solution to design dynamic, data-led loyalty programs, engineered for today’s digital-first consumer.&nbsp;Omnichannel Engagement&nbsp;M2P enables unified reward experiences across debit, credit, preloaded cards, UPI, and CASA accounts, ensuring consistent value delivery at every customer touchpoint. From credit card transactions to wallet transfers, each interaction reinforces engagement and drives habitual usage.&nbsp;Modular Design &amp; Seamless Scalability&nbsp;Indian financial institutions, regardless of size, can launch quickly and scale with confidence. The platform’s modular architecture ensures easy configuration of rules, segmentation, and partner offers without needing to rewire existing systems. This agility helps institutions adapt to changing customer behaviors and campaign goals in real time.&nbsp;Intelligence at the Core&nbsp;Backed by real-time data and behavioral insights, institutions can craft personalized reward journeys that evolve with the customer. From automating tier upgrades to nudging milestone-based rewards, M2P empowers institutions to move beyond one-size-fits-all programs and toward relationship-led growth.&nbsp;Measurable Impact, Lower Complexity&nbsp;With streamlined operations, reduced overhead, and built-in governance, institutions can maximize ROI while minimizing manual effort. The result? A smarter, more secure, and more engaging way to reward India’s growing digital consumer base without straining infrastructure or compliance teams.<h2 class="heading-node" id="iil5ltsxj" style="text-align: left">Future of Engagement for Financial Institutions&nbsp;</h2>In a competitive, regulation-heavy, and increasingly digital Indian market, customer attention is both precious and fleeting. To stay relevant, financial institutions must go beyond static loyalty schemes and build reward ecosystems that are intelligent, adaptive, and customer-centric.M2P’s Rewards Stack offers that edge, enabling banks, NBFCs, and fintechs to turn everyday financial interactions into high-impact engagement moments. Whether you're looking to boost product adoption, drive retention, or deepen lifetime value, M2P provides the tools to design for scale, deliver with speed, and evolve with users.As digital journeys become the default and real-time expectations become the norm, now is the time to reimagine how you engage your customers, not just to retain them, but to truly build lasting relationships.Ready to evolve your customer engagement strategy?<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/contact-us/?utm_source=Blog%20Page&amp;utm_medium=Website&amp;utm_campaign=Rewards%20Blog" target="_blank">Get in touch</a> to explore what M2P’s Rewards Stack can do for you.<h2 class="heading-node" id="7t8t3bamf" style="text-align: left">Frequently Asked Questions&nbsp;</h2>Q1. How is M2P’s Rewards Stack different from traditional rewards platforms?A1. M2P's Rewards Stack is modular, real-time, and API-first, enabling seamless integration across cards, wallets, and digital banking products. This flexibility allows financial institutions to build, scale, and personalize engagement without overhauling existing systems.Q2. Can M2P’s Rewards Stack integrate with existing core banking systems?A2. Yes, M2P's Rewards Stack integrates seamlessly with existing infrastructure via its API-driven architecture, ensuring fast deployment and minimal disruption.Q3. How does a modern rewards engine improve customer retention?A3. By offering personalized, behavior-driven rewards, financial institutions can turn routine transactions into meaningful engagement moments, driving stronger emotional connections and increased satisfaction.Q4. How does M2P ensure data security and regulatory compliance?A4. M2P follows industry-best practices in data encryption, consent management, and regional compliance, securing every touchpoint and ensuring safe, compliant engagement.Q5. Can reward rules, campaigns, and partner offers be customized?A5. Yes, M2P's Rewards Stack provides complete control to define earn-and-burn logic, create targeted campaigns, and integrate with burn partners, allowing tailored rewards for customer segments, behaviors, or specific goals.Q6.&nbsp;How can I set up and manage the earn and burn logic for my rewards program?A6. Our platform is designed with a portal-first approach for the front end, enabling users to easily configure their own earn-and-burn logic. This empowers you to manage your rewards program independently, with minimal reliance on backend support, for greater convenience and efficiency.<a class="link fui-Link ___1idfs5o f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1hu3pq6 f11qmguv f19f4twv f1tyq0we f1g0x7ka fhxju0i f1qch9an f1cnd47f fqv5qza f1vmzxwi f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh ftqa4ok f2hkw1w fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1h8hb77 f1x7u7e9 f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights directly to your inbox.Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link fui-Link ___1idfs5o f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1hu3pq6 f11qmguv f19f4twv f1tyq0we f1g0x7ka fhxju0i f1qch9an f1cnd47f fqv5qza f1vmzxwi f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh ftqa4ok f2hkw1w fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1h8hb77 f1x7u7e9 f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link fui-Link ___1idfs5o f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1hu3pq6 f11qmguv f19f4twv f1tyq0we f1g0x7ka fhxju0i f1qch9an f1cnd47f fqv5qza f1vmzxwi f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh ftqa4ok f2hkw1w fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1h8hb77 f1x7u7e9 f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech bytes curated for curious minds like you.

How Financial Institutions Can Elevate Customer Engagement with M2P’s Rewards Stack

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2023/06/FRM-Blog-Banner-2-1-2.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="383"><ul class="list-node" id="bbuv8bhp5"><li>Over 95,000 UPI fraud cases were reported in 2022-23.</li><li>More than 42% of Indians experienced financial crimes.</li><li>95% of Indian firms experienced new types of cyber frauds.</li></ul>Cyber frauds are surging every day.&nbsp; You may have experienced it, or you would have come across a cyber fraud victim. Living in an era of the highest technological sophistication and still falling prey to cyber frauds sounds like an irony.&nbsp;The global digital payments market is expected to grow at 15.5% and reach $111 billion in 2023 and hit $198 billion by 2027. Payment modes such as UPI, credit/debit cards, digital wallets, and other contactless modes have gained a lot of prominence due to their speed, convenience, and security. Despite phenomenal advances, cyber frauds in the form of phishing, spamming, SIM swapping, account takeover frauds, etc., increase by the minute. Hackers are evolving with technology and adopting sophisticated strategies to infiltrate banking infrastructure and commit cybercrime.&nbsp;This is why organizations need a robust Fraud and Risk Management (FRM) system to defend against data theft, breaches, and other forms of cybercrimes. Before getting into the details, let's first understand what is fraud and risk management.<h2 class="heading-node" id="k1k07wioo">What is Fraud and Risk Management?&nbsp;</h2>Fraud Risk Management is a systematic approach to reduce frauds, especially transaction related. It encompasses identifying, managing, and mitigating breaches in addition to preventing frauds and risks. Businesses that include financial institutions, ecommerce companies, healthcare providers, government agencies, and insurance companies, use FRM systems to combat risks associated with digital transactions.In this blog, we'll discuss how to design an FRM system and best practices to follow while designing. Before diving into it, let us go through the usual cyber frauds because knowing how hackers function can help you create an FRM system capable enough to handle those frauds.Here we go!&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="nm6kjndnr">Types of Cyber Fraud&nbsp;</h2><img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2023/06/Design-request-for-FRM-blog_2_V2-1.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="223"><h3 class="heading-node" id="u16fnp09p">Account Takeover (ATO) Frauds &nbsp;</h3>Account takeover fraud occurs when hackers gain unauthorized access to a victim's online account and take control, often without their knowledge or consent.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h3 class="heading-node" id="29imu321k">Phishing&nbsp;</h3>Phishing is an attacking method used in ATO where the hacker sends an email to a user posing as a genuine entity. The user gets tricked by believing the email to be legitimate and discloses their private information.&nbsp;<h3 class="heading-node" id="mdhb5jdk8">Brute-force Attack&nbsp;</h3>Hackers try a combination of username/password on multiple accounts till they crack into a user’s account.&nbsp;<h3 class="heading-node" id="1qp070zis">SIM Swap and Device-related Fraud&nbsp;</h3>SIM swap is a technique used by fraudsters to get control of a user’s phone number. By controlling the phone number, hackers can take advantage of two-factor authentication to access the user's devices, their bank accounts, social media accounts, and more.&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="m1sj54yqb">Authentication Protocols to the Rescue</h2>Most organizations have some sort of strategy to defend themselves from frauds. Some organizations use a proper FRM system, some follow stringent security protocols such as 3-D Secure Authentication (3DS) and Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) as an additional security layer. But the deployment of these security protocols depends on the marketplace. Many markets (such as the United States) do not use 3DS because they prefer customer convenience over security. This may lead to frauds unless strong controls are in place. On the other hand, in markets such as India where there is a mandate for 2FA, fraudsters still persuade gullible customers to share OTPs. Not taking requisite measures can give fraudsters access to stolen card credentials. They try their luck at different merchants to see if they can go through and bypass risk controls.&nbsp;The best way to battle cyber frauds is to design a risk engine capable of not only identifying existing frauds but also new ones.&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="drco1veje">How can you Design a Robust FRM to Tackle Fraud?</h2><ul class="list-node" id="08lc91nt7"><li>Accessing requisite data</li><li>Introducing the right balance between frictionless flows and challenges</li><li>Interfacing FRM with external systems</li><li>Embracing advanced risk checks</li><li>Adopting a combination of rules and models</li></ul><h3 class="heading-node" id="akzmswrji">Accessing Requisite Data&nbsp;</h3>In this data-driven world where frauds are mutating in novel ways like the Corona virus, we need requisite data to develop an efficient and holistic FRM system.&nbsp;<h4 class="heading-node" id="ph9lh45q3">Types of data we need for fraud management&nbsp;</h4><h5 class="heading-node" id="7t9bcfucg">Transaction data&nbsp;</h5>All financial data related to digital transactions, including credit card transactions, bank transfers, wire transfers, etc. This data must include the transaction amount, date, time, location, and other details. This data is used to build a historical profile of the customer.&nbsp;<h5 class="heading-node" id="8p7zx77jg">User data&nbsp;</h5>User information such as name, address, phone number, email address, employment, income, credit history, etc.&nbsp;<h5 class="heading-node" id="sohlvxzkd">Device data&nbsp;</h5>Device type, operating system, browser type, and other technical details.&nbsp;<h5 class="heading-node" id="1749otx7p">Geolocation data&nbsp;</h5>Location of the transaction - IP address, GPS coordinates, and other data that can be used to determine the user's location.&nbsp;<h5 class="heading-node" id="0s8b81av5">Behavioral data&nbsp;&nbsp;</h5>Browsing history, search history, and other online activities that may be relevant to the transaction.&nbsp;<h5 class="heading-node" id="vbouas7eo">External data</h5>Information from external sources, such as credit bureaus, public records, and other third-party sources that can provide additional insights into the user's risk profile.&nbsp; Now that you have all the requisite data for building an FRM system, what next?&nbsp;<h4 class="heading-node" id="zt4bvsebg">Customer profiling&nbsp;</h4>Customer profiling is a process in which a business or organization collects and analyzes information about their customers and analyzes their behavior, preferences, and potential risks.Comprehensive customer profiling enables business &amp; risk teams to design the most appropriate models &amp; rules to mitigate fraudulent transactions.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h3 class="heading-node" id="k0o72ows2">Introducing the Right Balance between Frictionless Flows and Challenges&nbsp;</h3><img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2023/06/Design-request-for-FRM-blog_3_V3_2000X1000.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="383">A natural question arises when developing an FRM system,Why not increase the number of authentication steps to increase security and prevent cybercrime?Yes, the authentication journey can be made more complex but will definitely impact the user experience.What will the user feel if they are subjected to strenuous procedures just to make a normal digital transaction?On the other hand, if the number of authentication steps are fewer/none, the probability of a hacker breaking into the system tends to go high. That is why, while designing a risk engine, it is important to strike a balance between frictionless user experience and introducing a challenge. Having a configurable, customizable challenge experience is critical to identifying different fraud strategies.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h3 class="heading-node" id="rbhucvi5z">Interfacing FRM with External Systems</h3>To enhance the security capabilities with the ever-evolving frauds, you need to interface the FRM engine with external systems such as whitelists, hotlists, spam lists, disposable lists, etc. By regularly pulling data from these systems, you can keep the FRM updated in real time.Let’s take a scenario.A user lost his credit card. He immediately alerts the card issuer to block the card. The issuer hotlists the lost credit card, meaning the card is permanently blocked. Now, when a hacker tries to make a transaction using the lost card credentials, an FRM system can classify it as fraudulent if it is interfaced with hotlists.&nbsp;Integrating hotlist information into the Fraud Risk Management (FRM) system can significantly enhance an organization's ability to identify and manage potential risks. These risks may include money laundering, fraud, terrorist financing, etc. By leveraging this integration, organizations can proactively mitigate these risks and ensure compliance with relevant regulations.&nbsp;<h3 class="heading-node" id="dwd2niduz">Embracing Advanced Risk Checks</h3>Behavioral biometrics distinguishes genuine users from criminals by analyzing users’ physical and cognitive digital behavior. By assessing user behaviors such as mouse movements, typing cadence, swipe patterns, device orientation, etc., and comparing it with the historical user profile, the behavior can be classified as either good or bad.For example, genuine users practice different paces and navigation patterns, whereas cybercriminals rely on copy, paste, and automated programs. Genuine users use the autofill feature to fill in personal details, whereas criminals enter the data manually.&nbsp;<h3 class="heading-node" id="t9lliq7kr">Adopting Rules and Models</h3>When building an FRM system, many organizations solely rely on Machine Learning (ML) models for fraud detection. ML models help the FRM system scale, adapt, and visualize emerging threats and frauds.Does that mean you should stop following a rule-based approach?After all, why should anyone still follow the rules when there are efficient ML models that can learn by themselves?Though the ML-based approach facilitates real-time processing and can automatically detect anomalies and unique frauds, it takes time to set up and train the models. Moreover, an ML-based approach can get tricky and complicated, whereas rules are good for certain edge cases where a rule must be deployed quickly to arrest a threat.That is why it is important to design a risk engine that combines rules and models.After building a risk engine based on the above steps, it is important to test the engine periodically in real-time and get feedback on its performance. That is the job of a fraud/risk analyst. Then, they improve the system by fine-tuning the rules and models.&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="ju5uswrou">M2P Fraud and Risk Monitoring System</h2>M2P’s Fraud Risk Monitoring system leverages all the best practices in designing a risk engine. It evaluates the risk associated with various use cases (transaction, onboarding, login, and other non-payment scenarios) across all channels, including cards (authentication &amp; authorization), BNPL, core banking, payment gateway, UPI, etc.&nbsp;Our FRM system combines many sources of data and performs customer profiling by interfacing with external system. We deploy advanced risk checks such as behavioral biometrics to classify genuine users and follow a holistic approach that combines rules and models.&nbsp;<h3 class="heading-node" id="0yp3vmls5">Why M2P FRM?&nbsp;</h3><h4 class="heading-node" id="nlv820xtf">Effective Rule and Data Management&nbsp;</h4>Our FRM lets the user upload historical data, review rule performance, and deploy it after fine tuning the rules. Depending on the implementation of risk rules, the users can run the system in a listening mode (without uploading any historical data). In this case, the source system receives the risk score but does not make business decisions. Users can turn off the listening mode once the risk rules have been finalized.&nbsp;If users do not have any pre-defined rule set, our system provides a standard rule set covering all mandatory and a few optional/ conditional parameters.&nbsp;<h4 class="heading-node" id="eyi1c6dvd">Customizable Case Management Modules&nbsp;</h4>The case management section allows the issuer to flag a certain type of transaction as a case (based on a case definition) and conduct further analysis to determine if the transaction was genuine/fraudulent. The case management flow can be customized as per business &amp; risk preference.&nbsp;Our Case Management module can help you:&nbsp;<ul class="list-node" id="tmaa6nywo"><li>Set case definition (automatic rule) to flag certain transactions as cases&nbsp;</li><li>Prioritize cases as high/medium/low&nbsp;</li><li>Assign cases to be investigated by analyst&nbsp;</li><li>Automate case investigation via IVR/SMS/WhatsApp&nbsp;</li><li>Assign and reassign cases based on category, ageing, priority, etc.&nbsp;</li></ul><h4 class="heading-node" id="kt5dbo5zy">Comprehensive Reports and Dashboard section&nbsp;</h4>From fetching detailed transaction report, rule performance report to case management report till managing overall FRM system performance, filtering the dashboard by score, transaction outcome, genuine vs. fraudulent transactions, etc., our FRM gives a comprehensive reports and dashboard section to the users.&nbsp;<h4 class="heading-node" id="dxbq3wuqi">Seamless Feedback &nbsp;</h4>Our FRM eases the life of the fraud analysts. Whenever the analysts come with feedback, it is easy for them to incorporate into our risk engine.&nbsp;At M2P, we have had the privilege of collaborating with a diverse range of clients, and built lasting relationships with banks, NBFCs, and neobanks. Our team consists of seasoned professionals who possess a deep understanding of market trends and industry standards. With this knowledge, we craft innovative solutions that effectively combat cyber fraud and provide our clients with the protection they need.Do you want to protect your customers from cyber frauds?&nbsp;Reach out to us at <a class="link" href="mailto:business@m2pfintech.com">business@m2pfintech.com</a>!&nbsp;This blog was co-written by <a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/madhusudhanramakrishnan/">Madhusudhan Ramakrishnan</a>, Associate Vice President – Product Management, M2P.&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a> to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox.&nbsp;Follow us on <a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a> and <a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a> for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.&nbsp;

Building a Robust Fraud and Risk Management (FRM) System

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2023/06/2000X1000.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="358">Identity theft among pensioners is a rising pandemic that needs to be eradicated. Impersonating senior citizens by stealing or faking their life certificates with a motive to swindle their income is nefarious. The crime not only pushes pensioners into poverty but also piles lawsuits and losses onto pension disbursing authorities.&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="lkzhcveaf" style="text-align: justify">Pensioner Plight&nbsp;</h2>In India, there are over one crore pensioners, including those from the central government and defense forces. To receive pension, a retiree must submit their life certificates annually to the Pension Disbursing Authority (PDA). Banks, post offices, and other financial institutions serve as PDAs, that disburse pensions after authenticating the life certificates of pensioners.&nbsp; The mere process of physically receiving a life certificate and delivering it to the PDA is a significant effort for elderly pensioners, as the process is slow and tedious. You can only imagine the plight of pensioners who are sick, bedridden, or even living abroad. Accessing and moving the physical life certificate for pensioner verification is a grueling task for seniors.&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="rm4quf8we" style="text-align: justify">Launch of Jeevan Pramaan&nbsp;</h2>To make life certificate issuance convenient, the Indian government launched a digital service called Jeevan Pramaan in 2014. However, the service mandates senior citizens to have digital literacy. They also had to follow rigid steps and download multiple software. Seniors who are not tech-savvy face significant pressure in the process.&nbsp; This got us thinking about how we can help. We wanted to address the issues associated with the verification and distribution of digital life certificates.&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="gloui3z7e" style="text-align: justify">Our Solution: Digital Life Certificates&nbsp;</h2>We introduced the Digital Life Certificate (DLC) solution to streamline pensioner verification by making the process, quick, convenient, and seamless. Our DLC platform provides a flexible and convenient solution that can be accessed from the comfort of the pensioner's own home.&nbsp; And the best thing was our process saved significant time and effort for both the pensioner and the disbursing organization. We also customize the solution to suit specific requirements.&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="1srmxvygg" style="text-align: justify">Key Highlights of the DLC Solution&nbsp;</h2><ol class="list-node" id="09ttsi9if"><li>Multi-browser compatible web platform for generating DLC&nbsp;</li><li>Custom rule-based business engine&nbsp;</li><li>Active/Passive liveness detection&nbsp;</li><li>AI/ML-based Optical Character Recognition (OCR) techniques&nbsp;</li><li>Aadhaar OTP-based e-KYC or Digilocker&nbsp;</li><li>Integration with SMS gateway and email to push notifications to pensioners&nbsp;</li></ol><h2 class="heading-node" id="whd3zkfr1" style="text-align: justify">Pensioner Identity Verification Process Flow&nbsp;</h2>The pensioner’s identity verification process can take place in three ways&nbsp; A. Agent-assisted – The pensioner gets on a call with an agent to get the Digital Life Certificate. Both the call recording and the live picture will be saved.&nbsp; B. Self-assisted – The pensioner records himself during the process. He/she will answer the questions displayed on the screen and captures a live photo.&nbsp;&nbsp; C. Selfie-based – The selfie-based flow is customizable, where the customer can record himself by capturing an Officially Valid Document (OVD) or answering security questions displayed on the screen, and the selfie is captured.&nbsp;&nbsp; Irrespective of the process flows, the recordings will be sent to the auditor for review to verify the pensioner.&nbsp; Among these, the self-assisted process flow is more commonly used.&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="oj4ndy737" style="text-align: justify">How can Pensioners Secure Digital Life Certificates in a Self-assisted Process Flow?&nbsp;</h2>Our web-based DLC solution provides a hassle-free and convenient way for pensioners to obtain their digital life certificates in three simple steps.&nbsp; Step 1: The pensioner accesses the DLC platform via the link provided, input their data, and completes OTP-based mobile verification.&nbsp; Step 2: The pensioner then proceeds to complete Digi Locker-based Aadhaar verification using their Aadhaar number.&nbsp; Step 3: Liveness check is done using Active Liveness Detection, which involves performing gestures or reading out an OTP/statement suggested by the application.&nbsp; Step 4: The pensioner is directed to the DLC process summary. The DLC will be available in a pdf form, and upon receiving the DLC, a confirmatory message is sent to the pensioner’s mobile/email.&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="7n4jb2vwr" style="text-align: justify">Live Use Cases - Digital Life Certificates&nbsp;</h2>Odisha is the first state in India to provide a Digital Life Certificate (DLC) facility through Video KYC. We collaborated with the Odisha government and National Insurance Company Limited (NIC) in West Bengal to deliver digital life certificates to their beneficiaries/pensioners.&nbsp;&nbsp; Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh are a few other states in India that have implemented our OTP-based digital-KYC solutions.&nbsp;&nbsp; So far, we have issued digital life certificates to over 5 lakh pensioners across the country through our web-based platform.&nbsp;&nbsp; Thanks to the in-hand availability of cutting-edge technologies and the three well-organized robust process flows, our platform is readily accessible to pensioners.&nbsp; Do you want to streamline pension verification?&nbsp; Write to us at <a class="link" href="mailto:business@m2pfintech.com">business@m2pfintech.com</a>.&nbsp;<a class="link fui-Link ___1qmgydl f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1hu3pq6 f11qmguv f19f4twv f1tyq0we f1g0x7ka fhxju0i f1qch9an f1cnd47f fqv5qza f1vmzxwi f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh ftqa4ok f2hkw1w fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1h8hb77 f1x7u7e9 f10aw75t fsle3fq" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox. 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Streamlining Pension Verification: A Step-by-Step Guide to Digital Life Certificates

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2023/03/Behavioral-Biometrics01.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="253">Over 9,103 bank fraud cases worth 604 billion rupees were reported across India in 2022.  Now, this is not a good sign for the banking industry.&nbsp;Let alone the digital banking sector.With digital transformation on the rise, the cyber threat landscape has evolved too. Fraudsters are adapting sophisticated tactics and technologies to steal identity, data, and money for their corrupt motives. The security attacks have deep risk implications that result in financial loss, regulatory scrutiny, and depletion of customer trust and goodwill.&nbsp;These repercussions have created a dire demand for stringent security in digital banking. A one that does not hamper customer experience. Banks need technology innovation that can go beyond PINs and passwords to deter security attacks without compromising customer experience, trust, or regulatory compliance.&nbsp;Behavioral biometrics serve as a great solution to deter the security risks at stake.&nbsp;Advanced technology in behavioral biometrics can mitigate the security concerns of digital banks without impeding speed, personalization, convenience, or experience. It is a great way to build stakeholder loyalty and trust.&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="peql4e1rh" style="text-align: left">What is behavioral biometrics? &nbsp;</h2>Behavioral biometrics is a cutting-edge technology that continuously analyzes user identity along with their phygital (physical + digital) and cognitive behavior. It averts security risks such as credential theft, compromised passwords/accounts, user substitution, phishing attacks, license mismanagement, and identity breaches of any kind. The biometric authentication runs without making a noise in the background and does not impede the customer experience on any level.&nbsp;&nbsp;By monitoring and analyzing user movements like swiping, keying, scrolling, or even moving the devices, behavioral biometrics helps differentiate legitimate from fraudulent activities and can easily identify cybercriminals and fraudsters.&nbsp;It creates in-depth profiles of user behavior and uses them as a benchmark for identifying and preventing suspicious transactions. If the system notices any unusual conduct, alerts are triggered in the background to carry out extra research to preserve the integrity of the account and the authorized user. &nbsp;Banks today are exploring biometrics as a possible replacement for PIN and password systems for a more user-friendly banking experience. Behavioral biometrics can usher in a new era in digital authentication when implemented with machine learning and risk assessment techniques. When deployed in conjunction with biometric cards, it can combat even the most sophisticated digital banking fraud attacks. <h2 class="heading-node" id="cotu4k4rk" style="text-align: left">Types of behavioral biometrics &nbsp;</h2>The way a user walks, talks, types on a keyboard, or moves the mouse is factored in behavioral biometrics to validate identity and discover breaches. Kinesthetics, voice inputs and patterns, and devise-based gestures are primary types of behavioral biometrics.&nbsp;<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2023/03/Behavioral-Biometrics03.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="253">Kinesthetics (Posture &amp; Gait) &nbsp;The way a person's body moves and how their weight is distributed are kinesthetic behaviors of the user. Behavioral biometrics records and analyzes user gait, the way and the manner in which they handle devices, and body movements such as stride length, upper body posture, and movement pace to identify fraudulent activity. &nbsp;Voice Inputs &amp; Patterns &nbsp;The human voice is unique. By capturing narrow-band characteristics such as pitch and format, the perpetrator's identity and motive are very easily verified. The voice inputs and patterns of the user are analyzed, and the distinct, recurring sound variations that occur when they speak are captured and evaluated in behavioral biometrics.&nbsp;Device-Based Gestures (Keystroke Dynamics &amp; Cursor Movements) &nbsp;People interact with devices in specific ways. Typing patterns, keystroke speed and duration, key sequences, and mouse movement patterns have a significant correlation with behavioral intent. Cursor movement analysis in speed, direction changes, clicks, and interactions serves as a basis for user behavior profiles.  &nbsp;The gestures discussed above are analyzed in detail continuously to create behavioral profiles as input to risk engines/fraud monitoring systems. Banks and financial institutions can adopt this advanced technology to provide an extra layer of security for customer identity verification and fraud control.&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="z3wze9vma" style="text-align: left">How does behavioral biometrics prevent fraud? </h2>The process of preventing fraud and scams with behavioral data happens as follows.<ul class="list-node" id="ayi9ecx61"><li>Collection: The Access Control Server (ACS) monitors and records user actions and behaviors, such as typing rhythm, mouse movements, device usage patterns, and other kinesthetics.  &nbsp;</li><li>Analysis: A unique user profile is created after a thorough analysis of the collected data based on their behavioral patterns.  &nbsp;</li></ul><img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2023/03/Behavioral-Biometrics04.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="253"><ul class="list-node" id="1frsnzw24"><li>Authentication: When a user attempts to access a protected resource, the system compares the current behavior of the user to their previously established profile. If the behavior matches, the user is authenticated and granted access. &nbsp;</li><li>Monitoring: Continued monitoring and updating of the user behavioral profile is done to ensure accuracy.  &nbsp;</li></ul>This way, behavioral biometrics significantly improves security and user experience in digital banking. &nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="o9mj9ojo6" style="text-align: left">Five reasons why banks need behavioral biometrics &nbsp;</h2><ol class="list-node" id="eq24hgkm0"><li>Stronger security: Behavioral biometrics uses unique behavioral patterns and actions to verify the identity of an individual, providing a stronger form of authentication when compared to traditional methods such as passwords and security tokens. </li><li>User convenience: Unlike traditional biometrics, such as fingerprints and facial recognition, behavioral biometrics do not require any physical input from the user. Instead, it uses actions and behaviors that are performed naturally, such as typing rhythm and mouse movements. This makes it a convenient and user-friendly method of authentication.  &nbsp;</li><li>Continuous authentication: Behavioral biometrics continuously monitor the actions and behaviors of the user, ensuring that the user's identity is continuously verified even after initial authentication. This helps prevent fraud by detecting any changes in behavior that may indicate that a fraudster has taken over the account. &nbsp;</li><li>More difficult to mimic: Unlike other forms of biometrics, it is difficult for a fraudster to mimic the unique behavioral patterns of an individual. This makes it a more secure form of authentication, reducing the risk of fraud. &nbsp;</li><li>Improved fraud detection: By continuously monitoring user behavior, behavioral biometrics can help financial institutions identify potential fraud and investigate suspicious activity, giving them another layer of security to their customer’s accounts. &nbsp;</li></ol>The technology behind behavioral biometrics is evolving, and there is no doubt that a lot of work in this space is already underway. The early indications are quite clear that it will be a key component of banks’ arsenal against the continuously evolving world of fraud.&nbsp;It’s high time banks take behavioral biometrics seriously to authenticate and protect end-users from hacking and fraud.&nbsp; Want to know more about Behavioral Biometrics?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Write to us at <a class="link" href="mailto:business@m2pfintech.com">business@m2pfintech.com</a>.&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox.Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

5 Reasons why Banks need Behavioral Biometrics

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2023/01/AUA-2.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" id="qrx9wqz1i" width="100%" height="60">Identity fraud is on the rise globally. To avert the dangers of this risk, businesses across industries need to be vigilant and conduct thorough identity verification, with no scope for errors or misrepresentation. If the identities of people involved viz., employees, customers, vendors, and other stakeholders, are not verified properly, businesses could suffer from security breaches, financial losses, regulatory penalties, and reputational damage. In India, Aadhaar serves as a trusted tool to weed out duplicate and fake identities.&nbsp; The Aadhaar card is a unique and potent document that enables cost-effective, smooth, and secure onboarding. But accessing and verifying the validity of Aadhaar cards from the UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) server is not an easy task. Their security policies and other stringent protocols limit access to the UIDAI database. This is where AUA/KUA comes in as a robust and foolproof solution for accessing the Aadhaar database effortlessly and verifying identities swiftly. So, what is AUA and KUA?&nbsp; Let us break it down for you.<h1 class="heading-node" id="xckr8aasp" style="text-align: justify">What is AUA?</h1>Acronym for Authentication User Agency, AUA is a license given to a regulated entity authorized by UIDAI. The license enables businesses to use OTP and biometric-based Aadhaar authentication to verify the identities of the customer, employee, or any stakeholder. The verification response is not too elaborate. Only a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ response is documented. The AUA license is versatile enough to benefit government institutions that disburse benefits and financial institutes that onboard customers or employees. It is important to note that AUAs are liable for the authentication process and the security and integrity of Aadhaar data.<h2 class="heading-node" id="5fvsbrq9w" style="text-align: justify">How AUA helps verify identity?</h2>When an authentication request is raised, AUA passes the request to the Authentication Server Agency (ASA) who then passes the request to the CIDR database of UIDAI. The OTP/biometric data provided by AUA is matched here on a real-time basis. The response (Yes / No) is pushed back to AUA from UIDAI via the ASA. To verify an identity, AUAs liaise with multiple Authentication Services Agencies (ASAs), which are entities that maintain secure leased line access with the UIDAI database.<h3 class="heading-node" id="bvp0bkfrz" style="text-align: justify">AUA and Sub AUA</h3>Sometimes the AUA sends authentication requests from other entities named "Sub AUAs," which is responsible for offering authentication services to customers on behalf of the AUA. The UIDAI directly authorizes the AUAs to use the Aadhaar system, while an AUA authorizes sub-AUAs to perform the authentication using the AUA route by sub-licensing it to Sub-AUA. The Sub-AUA will not have to maintain the entire infrastructure and compliance as per UIDAI compliance. AUA will handle those. Following the Aadhaar authentication, KYC authentication of customers is performed using KUA.<h2 class="heading-node" id="srsgv4yra" style="text-align: justify">What is KUA?</h2>Acronym for KYC User Agency, the KUA fetches the KYC details from the UIDAI server. The KYC checks are carried out in the UIDAI server by collecting Aadhaar Number and OTP / Biometrics (Fingerprint / Iris / Face). The response will contain data of customers viz., name, gender, date of birth, address, and photograph. The KYC request is sent from KUA through (KYC Services Agency) KSA to UIDAI. Businesses across industries must acquire an AUA/KUA license to upgrade their onboarding capabilities. The license ensures an additional layer of protection against fraud. Today, NBFCs are also eligible to apply for AUA/KUA licenses alongside RBI, SEBI, IRDA, and government-regulated businesses.<h2 class="heading-node" id="dk7jf1vai" style="text-align: justify">Why do businesses need AUA/KUA?</h2>AUA/KUA license assures speed, accuracy, and security of identity verification and KYC checks.&nbsp;Here are a few more reasons why your business requires AUA/KUA license.<ul class="list-node" id="gaoxflike"><li>Cuts costs associated with the manual, in-person document verification</li><li>Enables streamlined verification procedures</li><li>Ensures onboarding experience is smooth and seamless</li><li>Protects data using cutting-edge security</li><li>Reduces the danger of identity fraud and other security breaches</li><li>Boosts customer/employee trust, as identity verification and data are safe</li><li>Simplifies and eases user journey as the verification happens in an instant</li></ul><h2 class="heading-node" id="m27a66omw" style="text-align: justify">Challenges in acquiring AUA/KUA license</h2>As we already discussed above, acquiring the AUA/KUA license is not a walk in the park. It is fraught with a lot of challenges that make it a tedious process. Let’s delve into two important challenges here. Regulatory compliance: All businesses must adhere to stringent standards and regulations established by UIDAI to procure the AUA/KUA license. If compliance is compromised, businesses will have to deal with exorbitant fines, legal action, and reputational damage. Infrastructure and cost: Setting up and maintaining the necessary infrastructure and staff to get the AUA/KUA license can be expensive, labor-intensive, and time-consuming. To overcome the challenges in acquiring an AUA/KUA license, you need a <a class="link" href="https://syntizen.com/zen-aua">reliable RegTech partner</a> who can do the heavy lifting, while you focus on your core business. Here are some of the use cases of AUA/KUA.<h2 class="heading-node" id="wciutrwxx" style="text-align: justify">Use cases for AUA/KUA</h2><h3 class="heading-node" id="mgh56n2dr" style="text-align: justify">Streamline Customer Onboarding - BFSI</h3>AUA/KUA helps BFSI players with secure and reliable customer onboarding and KYC process using biometric authentication. The service enables quick execution of KYC processes, reduces the risk of data breach and unauthorized access to sensitive data.<h3 class="heading-node" id="zoldaec1c" style="text-align: justify">Pension Disbursal - Governments</h3>Governmental departments and agencies rely on AUA/KUA services for secure and seamless Aadhaar validation to verify identity and pension eligibility. The process of delivering financial support to senior citizens and disabled beneficiaries is made efficient, secure, and reliable.<h3 class="heading-node" id="nppzy95p3" style="text-align: justify">Online Services - Transport Department</h3>By using AUA/KUA services, government departments like the Transport Department of Telangana have been able to verify the identity of citizens efficiently and deliver online services seamlessly.&nbsp; The need to physically visit the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) offices for services was drastically reduced, making the process highly convenient and efficient for citizens.<h3 class="heading-node" id="esq88bs9h" style="text-align: justify">Contract Employee Authentication - Municipal Corporation</h3>AUA/KUA helps municipal corporations in tracking the attendance of sanitary workers accurately. Using biometric scanners, municipal corporations verify Aadhaar, at least three times in a day to prevent fraud and eliminate ghost workers. Biometric verification ensures the authenticity of workers and the accuracy of records. Municipal corporations deploy AUA/KUA services to maintain trustworthy records.<h3 class="heading-node" id="2z6yrlltv" style="text-align: justify">Employee Identification - Hospitals</h3>Hospitals leverage AUA/KUA services for hassle-free biometric verification of doctors and other healthcare professionals.&nbsp; The process helps hospital administration confirm the validity and availability of physicians and monitor their schedules.<h3 class="heading-node" id="4o77s744u" style="text-align: justify">Student Monitoring - Welfare Hostels</h3>The usage of AUA/KUA services and the installation of biometric scanner devices in welfare hostels have reduced incidences of ghost student records and increased efficiency in fund allocation and utilization. By helping hostel students authenticate themselves every day, the hostels can track their attendance precisely and get rid of ghost student records. The process has helped the administration prevent the misappropriation of funds and ensure resources are used efficiently to support the students.<h3 class="heading-node" id="z2jovtjh0" style="text-align: justify">Scholarship Monitoring - Universities/Colleges</h3>Tracking student attendance is imperative for colleges and universities. To prevent fraudulent activities or misrepresentations in biometrics, institutions can rely on AUA/KUA. It helps verify student identity quickly and accurately using the Aadhaar number. It also helps universities to disburse scholarships to students.<h2 class="heading-node" id="4hrtq082o" style="text-align: justify">AUA/KUA, a necessity for seamless identity verification</h2>AUA/KUA license is a vital investment for any business that requires seamless identity verification. Instead of taking on the complex and expensive task of implementing an in-house identity service, businesses can consider partnering with a reputable digital identity service provider that offers a comprehensive AUA/KUA solution to combat identity fraud. Check out our exclusive AUA/KUA suite that offers the following features.<ul class="list-node" id="mfwgkl508"><li>Cloud and on-premise hosting</li><li>Face authentication-based transactions</li><li>Scalable system (handles 10 million hits/day)</li><li>Live network operations team</li><li>Supports all stacks (Web, Windows &amp; Android)<ul class="list-node" id="pmn5y19a1"><li>UIDAI-approved biometric scanners</li><li>Fraud monitoring systems</li></ul></li><li>Multiple ASA switch (switch transactions to ASA)</li><li>Live dashboard monitoring</li><li>Assured UID compliance</li></ul>Want to know more about our AUA/KUA suite? Write to us at <a class="link" href="mailto:business@m2pfintech.com.&nbsp;">business@m2pfintech.com.&nbsp;</a> &nbsp; &nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox.Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

Streamline Customer Identification with AUA/KUA

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2023/01/Medium-2.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" id="il8fa0frb" width="100%" height="763">Businesses record revenues and expenses every day. Ever wondered why it is important to accurately document these transactions?Maintaining accurate financial records is critical to the success of any business. It helps the management make informed accounting decisions and ensures a strong base for growth and operations. Payment reconciliation secures the financial health of a business.In the next few minutes, you will learn what payment reconciliation is all about, why it matters, its benefits, M2P’s Recon360, why it is a game changer, and how it works.Let’s dive in!<h2 class="heading-node" id="c692iadj7">What is Payment Reconciliation? Why does it Matter?</h2>Payment reconciliation is a process that ensures the accuracy of financial records by matching them with bank statements and world-leading interchanges, viz., transaction processing switches and core banking solutions. It is essential for businesses to ensure that every transaction is properly recorded and up-to-date. In today's age of digital payments, businesses are handling multiple payment gateways, interchange reports, settlement vouchers, and bank financial postings across different partners and touchpoints. Thus, it is imperative to keep track of all income and expenses for sound financial health.Businesses must balance their payments on a cycle and time zone-based reconciliation. It is a vital aspect of bookkeeping that ensures the integrity of financial records. This process must be performed regularly for data accuracy and compliance with financial regulations.<h2 class="heading-node" id="kqn6ucejv">Benefits of Payment Reconciliation</h2>Frequent, regular, and automated payment reconciliation offers the following benefits.<ul class="list-node" id="tf6p5m0yi"><li>Identifies and resolves errors in financial records</li><li>Tracks late or unpaid invoices</li><li>Helps maintain accurate financial records</li></ul><h3 class="heading-node" id="imxff9564">Identifies and resolves errors in financial records</h3>Payment reconciliation detects bookkeeping errors and unauthorized payments. By comparing internal and external records, businesses can identify discrepancies early on and quickly resolve issues related to cash flow or security breaches. This prevents fraud and ensures the financial stability and health of a business.<h3 class="heading-node" id="j617aalc8">Tracks late or unpaid invoices</h3>Reconciling payments on a regular basis helps businesses stay on top of late or unpaid invoices. Businesses can identify missed or delayed payments by comparing internal and external records and take action to follow up and collect them. The process not only saves effort and time but also prevents financial stress.<h3 class="heading-node" id="7bbllei6z">Helps maintain accurate financial records&nbsp;</h3>To make data-driven decisions, accurate financial records are a must-have. By reconciling payments regularly, businesses ensure that their financial records are accurate and up-to-date. Reconciliation demonstrates financial stability when there is a need to secure investments or loans. It also supports regulatory compliance and prevents legal repercussions.<h2 class="heading-node" id="nh8rexmnu">How Payment Reconciliation Works?</h2>Payment reconciliation involves matching financial records with those from a bank, internet banking, NEFT, RTGS, and AEPS, for thoroughness and accuracy. By using a bank feed, the finance team can easily compare and verify payments made against accounts, thus maintaining accurate financial records. Payment reconciliation comprises two processes, viz., internal and external.<h3 class="heading-node" id="ln5z8t7hn">Internal Reconciliation</h3>Maintaining accurate records of transactions can be done using internal sources such as accounting software, spreadsheets, and other record maintenance systems. Some businesses keep physical copies of receipts, invoices, and billing paperwork as a means of maintaining records. However, this physical method could be prone to human error and may not be as reliable as digital record-keeping. Choosing the right internal reconciliation method is crucial, as it could involve harmonizing physical and digital records.<h3 class="heading-node" id="evguoznb2">External Reconciliation</h3>External reconciliation relies on transaction data coming in from external sources like bank statements that hold details of incoming and outgoing cash flow. As these statements are digitally generated and contain critical data pertaining to payments, they are reliable for accounting and reconciliation needs.<h3 class="heading-node" id="3xqe1i26g">Matching Internal with External</h3>As an ideal practice, businesses must match and cross-check internal and external records to reconcile the transactions. Entries in internal reconciliation should match those from external reconciliation. If there are discrepancies, businesses must get to the root of it to identify and resolve errors or breaches, if any.<h2 class="heading-node" id="emp5l9908">Types of Payment Reconciliation</h2>Depending on the complexity and transaction type, the payment reconciliation process can differ from one business to another. Here are common types of payment reconciliation companies follow.<h3 class="heading-node" id="cf0nbifgi">Rule-based reconciliation</h3>The rule-based reconciliation process is automated and uses predefined criteria or rules to match transactions between different accounts. These rules are programmed into the system, and the software automatically verifies matches and exceptions based on these rules. This method is highly efficient, saves time, and reduces errors compared to manual reconciliation methods. It can be customized to fit specific business needs, as the rules can be modified and updated as needed. One flexible approach to rule-based reconciliation is relaxed matching. Instead of deploying strict rules, it allows for some level of deviation or tolerance in certain parameters such as date and amount. This approach is less accurate, much faster, and needs less manual intervention. It is often used in high-volume and low-value transactions where speed and efficiency are prioritized over absolute accuracy.<h3 class="heading-node" id="pothdb3so">Card reconciliation</h3>Accountants use the card reconciliation method to compare credit or debit card statements to General Ledger (GL) accounts. It must be ensured that the information on a credit card bill and the information represented on the GL are consistent, as every business transaction is recorded within the GL and vice versa.<h3 class="heading-node" id="30lrzycdj">Cash reconciliation</h3>Cash reconciliation is used to verify the usage of cash from the register. The purpose of cash reconciliation is to ensure that the recorded cash balances and the bank statements match up. The cash reconciliation method enables businesses to detect inconsistencies and pinpoint the areas where the ledger and statement do not match up.<h3 class="heading-node" id="smzbl80w6">Digital wallet reconciliation</h3>The process of digital wallet reconciliation is similar to credit card reconciliation. The only difference is the mode of payment. It is recommended to report payments received via digital wallets separately. That way they can be compared with the necessary merchant reports to ensure that records are accurate and the numbers on statements make sense.<h3 class="heading-node" id="6lm630sk5">Real-time automatic payment reconciliation</h3>Automated payment reconciliation can accelerate month-end accounting close, reduce errors, and improve cash flow control. The ability to handle live transaction data is provided by real-time reconciliation for banks and other financial institutions.<h2 class="heading-node" id="kkee8uxpt">Challenges in Payment Reconciliation</h2>Payment reconciliation is imperative for any business. However, it comes with its own set of challenges. These challenges range from simple errors to more complex issues that can cause significant financial losses.<h3 class="heading-node" id="3d5w4wo5a">Manual processes</h3>Manual processes are prone to errors and time-consuming, thereby slowing down the reconciliation process. When transactions are recorded and reconciled manually, there is a greater risk of incorrect dates, transposed numbers, and other inaccuracies. Manual processes also make it difficult to keep up with the volume of transactions and identify discrepancies.<h3 class="heading-node" id="wr6ruhh5h">Data discrepancies</h3>With multiple payment partners and different types of financial transactions, it can be difficult to ensure that all the data received is consistent and in a similar format. When data from disparate sources are not consistent, it can be difficult to match transactions between different accounts. Inconsistent data that lacks standardization can lead to processing delays, inaccurate reporting, and erroneous reconciling. It can also cause difficulty in achieving compliance and identifying frauds and breaches.<h3 class="heading-node" id="gfcp9fiht">Lack of visibility and control</h3>In today's fast-paced business environment, real-time data visibility and transparency in financial reporting are must-haves. However, several businesses still depend on manual spreadsheet-based processes for reconciliation, which results in inaccuracies, lack of control, and visibility. This negatively impacts credibility, strategic decisions, and long-term success.To resolve the challenges explained above, several businesses are turning to automation and the use of best-in-class account or payment reconciliation software.<h2 class="heading-node" id="k69bej3lp">How can businesses choose the best Payment Reconciliation solution?</h2>Before choosing a reconciling solution, businesses must answer 3 crucial questions.<ol class="list-node" id="l9gin5cmh"><li>Is it platform agnostic?</li><li>Does it track and monitor real-time transactions?</li><li>Does it offer best-in-class data security measures?</li></ol>M2P’s Recon360 offers all this and more!<h2 class="heading-node" id="6f41len3j">RECON360 – Redefining Payment Reconciliation</h2>Recon360 is a complete solution for reconciling payments using automated data matching and instant monitoring of multiple transactions. The solution maintains financial records accurately and can be deployed seamlessly.<h3 class="heading-node" id="m3t0mpf4o">Key Features</h3><ul class="list-node" id="08uahal9i"><li>Automated, flexible, with extended data matching</li><li>Cloud &amp; dataset agnostic</li><li>Seamless deployment</li><li>Data qualification &amp; insight</li><li>Multi behavior system</li><li>Automatic exception management</li><li>Dynamic reporting engine</li><li>Instant regulatory compliance</li></ul>We also offer best-in-class features for business end users, that includes a dynamic reporting engine, dispute resolution, and exception handling to cut operating costs and achieve business goals.Want to make payment reconciliation work for you? Recon360 is the answer!Write to us at <a class="link" href="mailto:business@m2pfintech.com">business@m2pfintech.com</a> to get started!<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox.Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

Recon360 - Redefining Payment Reconciliation

Transform Digital Onboarding with VKYC Solutions

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/10/e-KYC-2.0-in-Egypt-blog_1-02.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="236">The last 6 years have been the fintech era for Egypt. Its rather traditional financial system has been steadily progressing toward digitalization. Recent reports affirm that the country is turning into the entrepreneurial hotspot for burgeoning fintech startups in North Africa, and its financial services sector is expected to grow at 12% yearly until 2025. The growth can be attributed to the thriving fintech adoption in North Africa, the boost in internet usage in Egypt, and most importantly, the government's commitment to attaining its Vision 2030.<h2 class="heading-node" id="wpgeh9ggx">Financial Digitalization&nbsp;</h2> In light of the Vision, the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) designed and developed numerous policies with the prime objective of improving the <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/fintech-a-catalyst-for-financial-inclusion/">financial inclusion</a> of the country as well as transforming the nation into the regional hub for fintech innovations. One such approach is digitalization in the financial services industry. Digitalization is one of the three strategic pillars of Egypt's Vision 2030, which aligns with the country's allegiance to the <a class="link" href="https://www.undp.org/sustainable-development-goals">United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).</a> The Vision's framework holistically fosters the transformation of Egypt into a digital or cash-free economy. With over 95 million young, unbanked/underbanked population, Egypt exhibits an extended appetite for digitalization, inclusion, and fintech innovations.According to <a class="link" href="https://www.mastercard.com/news/eemea/en/newsroom/press-releases/press-releases/en/2022/august/mastercard-new-payment-index-2022-consumers-in-egypt-embrace-digital-payments/">Mastercard's New Payment Index 2022 report</a>, 61% of Egyptian banking customers feel safe using mobile apps to send money to people or make payments to both online and offline merchants. In addition, 42% (i.e., four in ten) are keen to share their financial data to access payment tools/mobile applications that help them manage their finances.In 2021, Egypt's digital banking system witnessed an enormous upswing in mobile banking transactions. While the number of digital banking transactions increased by 107%, the value climbed by 159%. The number of internet banking users increased by 30% (y-o-y), and the value of transactions through digital channels increased by 60%. Further, the number of transactions over mobile wallets surged 108% reaching 212 million transactions, and e-commerce grew by 34% registering 60.3 million transactions. The value of electronic purchases using bank cards increased by 40% and climbed to EGP 23 billion from EGP 14 billion in the fiscal year 2019/2020. Overall, the banking system processed electronic transactions worth EGP 2.8 trillion during the fiscal year (FY) 2020/2021.<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/10/e-KYC-2.0-in-Egypt-blog_1-.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="236"> Mobile wallets covered a substantial fraction in the digitalization leap. Mobile wallet transactions rose to 268 billion EGP in 2021 from 88 billion EGP in 2020, attaining a 200 % increase. The number of banks providing electronic wallet services grew to 23, increasing the number of electronic wallets from 9 million in 2020 to 26 million in 2021. On the other hand, e-commerce transactions increased from 16 billion EGP to 30 billion EGP.Furthermore, the volume of government receipts through banking channels has reached more than 662 billion EGP. The volume of annual electronic transactions through electronic points of sale has witnessed a great leap from 110 billion EGP to 170 billion EGP. Such a mammoth uptick in digital adaption significantly scaled the financial ecosystem, calling for streamlined and robust Know Your Customer (<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/know-your-customer-kyc-the-need-for-authentication/">KYC</a>) procedures that are crucial to detect risk factors and avert financial crimes such as identity theft, <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/how-to-combat-money-laundering-2/">money laundering</a>, and terrorist financing.<h2 class="heading-node" id="weyytqtfu">Current KYC regime</h2> Egypt's KYC regime has the following tiers: Full KYC and Simplified KYC. To process a full KYC, FIs require<ul class="list-node" id="j6d4yly7a"><li>National ID&nbsp;</li><li>Customer ID number&nbsp;</li><li>Date of birth</li><li>Gender&nbsp;</li><li>Nationality&nbsp;</li><li>Religion&nbsp;</li><li>Legal form&nbsp;</li><li>Full address</li><li>Mobile and/or Telephone number</li></ul>When simplified KYC was first set up, it required FIs to validate only the National ID. However, when CBE released the second framework for its simplified KYC in 2016, it housed pioneering programs demanding minimum requirements for limited mobile money accounts as an alternative to the standard bank accounts with full KYC requirements. In both cases, bank personnel or a CBE licensed service provider conducts Customer Due Diligence (CDD) at customer premises and completes the KYC procedures. To perform <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/crack-the-kyc-jigsaw-ease-onboarding-compliance/">KYC</a>, companies must obtain and verify customers' data, including name, address, and date of birth, using government-issued identification cards, passports, utility bills, and mobile bills. Additionally, the customer's credibility is also validated by verifying their job license and sports club membership/subscription (if any). If a person is found to be a Political Exposed Person (PEP), financial institutions must take extra steps to check out that person.<h2 class="heading-node" id="c8l4ipur3">Rise of e-KYC</h2> The government and the Central Bank of Egypt have been proactive and quick to recognize the importance of a digitized KYC system in enabling frictionless financial digitalization. Subsequently, the underpinning was laid in 2019 when the <a class="link" href="https://fintech.cbe.org.eg/home/sandboxCohorts?en">CBE's Regulatory Sandbox</a> rolled out the red carpet for its first cohort in "e-KYC."The regulatory sandbox allows fintechs to trial their new products, services, technologies, and business models. The sandbox approach encourages innovative fintech products and services, reduces time to market, and cuts the cost involved in developing the products and services. It also enables CBE to understand disruptive fintech products and services before deciding to regulate them and collect evidence that can be used to draft practical guidelines and robust regulations. After a successful testing phase, the CBE is ramping up to launch a pilot of the electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) service to enable citizens to access financial services online without the need to walk into a brick-and-mortar bank. Here's a quick overview of how the modern e-KYC compares to the current KYC regime.<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/10/e-KYC-2.0-in-Egypt-blog_4.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="236"><h2 class="heading-node" id="z3b0iamw8">Unlocking the potential of e-KYC</h2> Egypt is a disruption-ready market. Although over 75 million actively use the internet, as of April 2022, about 2/3 rd of the population is underbanked, and a significant portion is still unbanked. Further, in accordance with the Egyptian Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Combating Unit (EMLCU), the CBE issued guidelines to all banks. It entails banks to draft new simplified procedures to open bank accounts for the self-employed and owners of micro-sized projects to encourage greater inclusion. Currently, 32 banks offer internet banking facilities, and 28 have obtained a license to render mobile-based banking services to their customers. In this unique landscape, leveraging e-KYC to streamline onboarding will boost financial reliability, stability, and growth. It will also augment market penetration and improve financial inclusion in the country. With the help of e-KYC, consumers will be able to verify themselves online in minimal steps, including document verification, data extraction, and face verification. They can see their verification status once these steps are completed. This would make the digital onboarding process simpler and secure, thereby helping customers trust financial entities more and making digital transactions easier and more accessible. On the other hand, it would assist FIs in extending services to a larger community of Egyptians living and working in the country and the Egyptian diaspora living abroad. In addition, e-KYC would help to lower risk and dramatically expand credit products like consumer lending as the process would speed up loan approvals. Even though the validation through e-KYC is still nascent, financial experts believe these approvals are likely to be high-value loans for houses and cars.<h2 class="heading-node" id="3qe9qztw4">Benefits of e-KYC</h2> In such a cyberized environment, e-KYC procedures can immensely benefit both financial institutions and customers. Here are some of them: Simple, Instantaneous, Accessible&nbsp;&nbsp;Traditionally, paper-based KYC is a time-consuming process. It can take days or, in some cases, weeks to complete the verification process. On the other hand, e-KYC is a fully automated or digital process that almost eliminates manual intervention. This makes it convenient for individuals and businesses to fill out forms without needing to visit a physical branch or office. Further, as the KYC data is transferred in real-time, it takes just a few minutes to verify and issue when an individual is opting for a banking service or product. Since it can be performed 24/7, 365 days, it increases scalability and makes it more accessible to consumers. Boosts customer acquisition&nbsp;According to a recent report, most Egyptians prefer getting a loan from their friends and family instead of approaching a FI, owing to the extensive time and effort involved in the KYC procedure. E-KYC is one of the optimal solutions to overcome this limitation. The digitized system makes the onboarding process simple and quick and is highly accurate compared to the KYC procedure. As it drastically reduces the waiting time to complete the verification, e-KYC enhances the customer experience from the very first interaction with the bank. Therefore, it serves as a critical factor in attracting new customers and maintaining loyal customer engagement.<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/10/e-KYC-2.0-in-Egypt-blog_1-05.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="236">Mitigates fraud&nbsp;In Egypt, digitalization in the banking sector is in progress. Consequently, banks and non-banking financial companies have to work with the remnants of old legacy systems. However, with steadily growing online transactions, FIs ought to preemptively identify and address systematic digital fraud. The e-KYC system includes technologies such as OCR, facial recognition, liveness detection, and fraud detection to monitor accounts continuously for prohibited transactions or activities. This helps banks detect and eliminate falsified onboarding.&nbsp; Improves operational efficiency&nbsp;By integrating e-KYC, banks can augment profits, enhance regulatory compliance, and transmute customer experience. As it requires zero to minimal manual intervention, it eliminates the need to hire/train agents for KYC procedures. This helps FIs to devote their personnel to other core business functions. Additionally, e-KYC promotes a cloud-based online system to store customer information, thereby replacing the need for paper and document management. Such practice reduces the cost associated with regular KYC compliance. Safe and Secure&nbsp;First off, e-KYC is a consent-based system that enables an individual to share data only upon his or her own accord and consent. Secondly, it entails fewer human beings reviewing sensitive data. Third, the customer's account details, transaction data, and other financial information are secure as it is an online process. This protects the individual's right to privacy and minimizes identity theft, fraud, money laundering, loan scams, etc.<h2 class="heading-node" id="7fd6wjrq0">M2P - a leader in KYC services</h2>M2P's e-KYC suite facilitates businesses to get customer KYC from anywhere in the nation while adhering to all regulatory requirements. It enables financial institutions to control the user data necessary to be captured from the customer, which is collected through the user journeys built into the partner/bank's digital assets. The customer's KYC is performed using the bank's/authorized entity's KYC <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/api-the-power-that-drives-new-age-banking-ecosystems/">APIs</a>, and the outcome of the activity is captured by M2P.&nbsp; Our e-KYC Gateway facilitates seamless customer onboarding for corporates &amp; to better the service delivery by governments. Further, <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/kyc-suite.php">M2P</a> ensures robust integration between the partner's/bank's digital assets and issuing bank's <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/future-of-core-banking-systems/">core banking</a> solution.Our services do not stop with e-KYC. We are incumbents in rendering extensive e-KYB to lending businesses. Our Bank Statement Analyzer is powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning that processes statement data in real-time. The analyzer runs deep analytics to generate accurate reports that help financial institutions and lending businesses make quick credit assessments and decisions. We are launching soon in Egypt. If you are interested in partnering with us, write to us at <a class="link" href="mailto:business@m2pfintech.com">business@m2pfintech.com.</a> <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox.Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

e-KYC 2.0 in Egypt - Enabling the Next Generation Fintech Adoption

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/10/AML-Banner-01-3.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="236"> Money laundering costs the world nearly 5% of its GDP. The losses are estimated to be over $2 trillion per year.&nbsp;&nbsp;For starters, money laundering is not some harmless misdemeanor. It’s a serious financial crime with significant economic and social consequences. As 90% of money laundered is off the radar, criminals and terrorist financiers find it very easy to fund and monetize illegal activities.&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="2opmmtuxc">What is money laundering?</h2>Money laundering is an illegal process that conceals the origin of ill-gotten funds and makes them appear as if they are from a legitimate source.&nbsp;&nbsp;Here’s an example.    &nbsp;A could have gotten paid for organized criminal activities such as drug trafficking, corruption, embezzlement, or gambling. Now, to spend the gains without drawing attention, A uses shell corporations, high-cash businesses, and other naive financial companies to illegally clean the dirty money and let it out in circulation. Now money laundering doesn’t affect just a particular set of businesses. Its dystopian effect surpasses industries and nationalities.&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="c9ru60ga0">How does&nbsp;money laundering&nbsp;happen?</h2>Money launderers&nbsp;traverse&nbsp;three stages to&nbsp;stealthily&nbsp;release&nbsp;illicit funds into the financial ecosystem.&nbsp;<h3 class="heading-node" id="4qgmrotqs">3 stages of money laundering</h3><h4 class="heading-node" id="qbxu15oy4">1 Placement&nbsp;</h4>Here the laundered funds are shifted from criminal associations to be placed and positioned as a legitimate source. Usual techniques to mask the identity include false&nbsp;invoices,&nbsp;moving money to heavy cash flow businesses, foreign bank accounts, and offshore companies.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<h4 class="heading-node" id="atsxwq39d">2 Layering</h4>Otherwise called the ‘structuring phase,’ layering divides a large sum of money into small transactions to cover up money laundering. It blankets the international money movement, making it difficult for law enforcement to track down launderers. Ultimately, the laundered money circulates globally and is exchanged in foreign markets.&nbsp;<h4 class="heading-node" id="wv3wdgeq0">3 Integration</h4>Also called the ‘extraction phase,’ integration is the final stage of money laundering. In this phase, the laundered money returns to the criminals and integrates with the regular financial stream. Masked to be from a legitimate source, criminals can now legally recover their laundered money and use it for any purpose.&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="0oubbqivk">Need&nbsp;to combat money&nbsp;laundering&nbsp;</h2>The impact of money laundering is severe. It decays financial health, income distribution, and tax revenues, in addition to promoting crime and slowing down economic growth. Institutions specializing in money movement, including banks, NBFCs, and other financial institutions, are more likely to be impacted by money laundering. Hence, they need to be highly vigilant.The September 11 attacks, popularly known as the 9/11 terrorist attack, had an intense effect on money laundering regulations, mainly focused on the banking sector. After this, the Patriot Act was introduced, which offered the US government power to fight against terrorism. It also directed the financial institutions to expand their Anti-Money Laundering (AML) programs and intensify due diligence on foreign bank accounts. Title III strengthened banking rules by improving communication between law enforcement and financial institutions. This resulted in the US enforcing a stricter AML regime, followed by other countries. In India, RBI imposes stringent anti-money laundering regulations. Banks must follow strict customer identification processes for account opening and transaction monitoring. Anything suspicious must be reported immediately to the appropriate authority. Strong Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations and compliance are critical in today’s modern landscape, where criminals are getting more sophisticated by the hour. Monitoring, assessing, and reporting vulnerabilities and suspected money laundering is crucial for financial institutions.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="wkbd6qylf">What is Anti-Money Laundering?&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations&nbsp;comprise&nbsp;laws nullifying&nbsp;money laundering or any associated fraudulent activities. It saves banks and other financial institutions from terrorism&nbsp;financing,&nbsp;drug rackets, and&nbsp;other organized crimes.  Comprehensive&nbsp;Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF) regulations enable&nbsp;financial institutions to comply&nbsp;with legal requirements and report suspicious financial activities.&nbsp;Technology innovation&nbsp;in&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/how-is-ai-changing-the-financial-industry-top-6-use-cases-in-fintech-and-banking/">Artificial Intelligence (AI)</a>&nbsp;and Machine Learning (ML)&nbsp;prevents&nbsp;fraudulent activities without hindering&nbsp;customer experience. &nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="3i7d0d4gq">4 Pillars of AML  &nbsp;</h2>For efficient anti-money laundering, businesses need to get the following pillars strong. &nbsp;<h3 class="heading-node" id="epyq8nxhc">Know Your Customer   &nbsp;</h3><a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/crack-the-kyc-jigsaw-ease-onboarding-compliance/">Know Your Customer (KYC)</a>&nbsp;is a critical process for financial institutions. It is a legal requirement for AML laws as it establishes and verifies identity, assesses risk factors, and monitors suspicious activities. &nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/know-your-customer-kyc-the-need-for-authentication/">KYC</a>&nbsp;helps banks and financial institutions understand their customers and their financial dealings to serve them better and manage risks prudently. In India, RBI has enunciated KYC guidelines in the context of recommendations made by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on AML.  FIs need to get KYC information, not just at the time of opening a new account.  They obtain additional data from time to time in accordance with account conduct or at periodic refresh cycles based on risk categorization.<h3 class="heading-node" id="6ykiuco81">Customer Due Diligence   &nbsp;</h3>Customer Due Diligence (CDD) is the control process where all the relevant information of the customers is collected and processed for any potential terrorist financing risks. CDD helps identify risks and provides a risk assessment to new customers&nbsp;(via online databases), politically exposed persons (PEPs), government records, watchlists, and sanctions screening.  CDD is an essential step in KYC that requires ongoing monitoring of money laundering risks posed by each customer. This&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/why-is-risk-based-authentication-rba-critical-for-banks/">risk-based approach</a>&nbsp;will conduct a more profound due diligence process for those with higher non-compliance risks by identifying customers added to sanctions and other AML lists.  Customer due diligence detects money laundering techniques that include layering and structuring. Also known as smurfing, that is breaking up a huge sum of money into smaller transactions to evade reporting limits and avoid perusal. <h3 class="heading-node" id="i2h716qd4">Customer and Transaction Screening   &nbsp;</h3> Banks and other financial institutions are the leading players in the financial landscape with broad customer portfolios. They need to monitor and control the money transfers that&nbsp;take place. As transactions involve several other banks and entities, an average-sized bank mediates thousands of daily&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/tale-of-money-transfers-from-hawala-to-one-click-remittances/">money transfers.</a>&nbsp;So even a minor crime can bring significant consequences and lead to severe administrative collapses, hefty fines, and loss of credibility. Hence screening of all customer deposits and other transactions must be treated seriously.<h3 class="heading-node" id="fabe0ux9m">Suspicious Activity Reporting   &nbsp;</h3> Examining bank records for any unusual behavior or irregularity is a common procedure for law enforcement organizations investigating money laundering. To aid law enforcement in locating perpetrators in the current regulatory framework, thorough records are kept on every single financial transaction. Banks must have an unchangeable audit trail that regulators can rely on. However, it’s also crucial that compliance experts at financial institutions rapidly and effectively examine issues and close them.<h2 class="heading-node" id="gu7wuxkmw">How do you respond to money laundering suspicions?</h2>Simple. Ask the client for more information. Then you can quickly determine if there is any chance of money laundering or not.And remember to tick off this checklist to avoid the risk of money laundering.&nbsp;<h3 class="heading-node" id="jddlhozk9">Tick off the&nbsp;AML checklist&nbsp;</h3>✅&nbsp;Ensure you run a deep check on your new clients. Revisit the purpose of the business partnership and try to understand why they chose your firm. Customer Due Diligence (CDD) helps in identifying the clients and helps assess/reduce the risk posed by them.&nbsp;&nbsp; ✅&nbsp;Keep track of the unusual transactions that take place at the client’s end.&nbsp;&nbsp;✅&nbsp;Unusual sources of funds are another crucial warning that you must consider. Regulation 28 of the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds Regulations 2017 (MLR 2017) helps in analyzing transactions if they are processed with the knowledge of the clients. In some cases, asking for any documentary evidence like bank statements, recently filed business accounts, or any documents that confirm the source of funds will help identify any trace of money laundering.&nbsp;&nbsp; ✅&nbsp;Consider the purpose of funds coming from third parties. It may seem like a regular feature, but it may act as criminal property sometimes. So, it is better to run a check on the funds from third parties and their source.✅&nbsp;If there is any change of instructions without prior warning from the client, ask for a reasonable explanation.✅&nbsp;Money launderers are most likely to misuse trust, company formation, operation of a client account, and so on. To avoid these risks, you must comply with anti-money laundering guidance for the legal sector and apply for appropriate levels of CDD and enhanced due diligence before providing these services.✅&nbsp;Pay attention to cash transactions, strictly follow your company’s cash policy, and don’t accept cash payments above the specified limit. There is always a high risk posed by cash.<h2 class="heading-node" id="4nrz33gno">Challenges in implementing AML  &nbsp;</h2>AML compliance is indispensable. But effective implementation is the key challenge for banks and financial institutions.  Increased governance, lack of skilled resources, requisite tools, technology, and in-depth knowledge are a few bottlenecks that impact AML deployments.Let’s take a brief look at some of the challenges below.Increased governance -&nbsp;These financial institutions and banks face difficulties managing cross-border and multi-jurisdictional AML compliance and customer due diligence requirements. The major challenge they face is identifying beneficial ownership and initiating remedial measures to address the prevailing AML gaps uncovered by regulatory reviews.  Lack of skilled personnel -&nbsp;Fetching professional resources with in-depth knowledge of AML is a tough challenge. Other issues include high onboarding timelines and costs, and attrition. With evolving regulatory requirements, organizations must invest considerable time and effort in keeping pace right.Complicated processes and technology -&nbsp;AML compliance requires banks to put in place a multiplicity of processes and technology solutions that will consolidate KYC data and systems in a single repository. They also need to create infrastructure for cross-channel detection of suspicious activities, improve data quality, and standardize data to enable a centralized analysis of fraud and financial crimes. The risk level assigned during onboarding varies according to the transactions undertaken by the customer. Banks must assess the risks dynamically for each customer and change risk levels accordingly to prevent false positives. This necessitates continual transaction monitoring for each customer, which is a daunting task.<h2 class="heading-node" id="9x7kxfrw4">In conclusion&nbsp;</h2>If you are a business looking to combat money laundering, you must invest in a robust AML platform focusing on the four critical aspects.&nbsp; Research and Technology&nbsp;– With state-of-the-art technologies like artificial intelligence, you can detect false positives and conduct in-depth research to eliminate wrongdoings.&nbsp;Constant Communication&nbsp;– Regular communication should be between the parties involved, including law enforcement, government, regulatory bodies, etc. Communication will keep all parties informed, analyze suspicions, and identify possible networks to tackle money launderers.&nbsp;&nbsp;Leverage Data Analytics&nbsp;– Analytics arms you with data and insights to identify and detect patterns concerning money laundering.&nbsp;&nbsp; System Standardization&nbsp;– Proper standardization helps to communicate and process data that hinder fraud detection.&nbsp;&nbsp; Want to know more about AML deployment?&nbsp;Write to us at <a class="link Hyperlink SCXW36320282 BCX8" href="mailto:business@m2pfintech.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">business@m2pfintech.com</a>.<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox.Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

Tag: "Vas (13)"

M2P Fintech