In impersonal presence: banks will be obliged to open accounts remotely
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law aimed at enabling customers to open accounts and obtain loans in banks without being present in person. The document has been published on the official legal information portal. Whether it will help to popularize the unified biometric system and reduce the burden on banks - in the material "Izvestia".
Access to biometrics
Obviously, the decision will contribute to the development of a unified biometric system (UBS), says co-owner of insurance broker Mainsgroup Sergei Khudyakov. This is a state information system that provides collection of biometric personal data, their storage and use for authentication and identification of users for citizens to receive public services and access to banking services.
- Especially since, according to VTsIOM, almost half of the surveyed Russians know what biometrics is, and about 29% already have personal experience of biometric data submission," the expert told Izvestia. - The unified biometric system will be used more often and more actively in everyday life as a new form of replacing official documents and as a means of payment. With Face Id it will be more often possible to pay without a plastic card or chip, the system will eventually be able to replace tickets to the theater, to a sporting event, plane tickets.
Biometric data will become a citizen's digital passport for identification and simplification of interaction with government agencies. Such solutions will optimize costs and reduce the physical burden for banks, insurance companies and business in general, which previously required the personal presence of an employee and a client, said Sergey Khudyakov. For users it is an opportunity to get better quality service and reduce time for traveling and personal presence, to make an informed decision independently and remotely.
The adopted changes are aimed at integrating a unified biometric system into various aspects of the activities of banks and government agencies, agreed Antonina Levashenko, Head of the Russia - OECD Center of IPEI RANEI RANEPA RANCHIGS. They simplify access to banking services through remote channels, which involves the use of biometric data to identify clients. This contributes to the popularization of EBS, as the system becomes essential for the use of basic financial services.
- Regarding the burden on banks, facilitating customer identification through biometrics reduces transaction costs associated with document processing and face-to-face services. However, implementing and maintaining biometric infrastructure can temporarily increase costs, especially for smaller banks that do not have an off-the-shelf system. In the long term, such a system may increase efficiency and improve customer experience," the expert noted in a conversation with Izvestia.
After the possibility for customers to open accounts and get loans in banks without personal presence, the service of the unified biometric system will become much more popular. At the same time, the number of those wishing to establish a self-limit on the issuance of loans will increase, said "Izvestia" stock market expert "BKS Investment World" Evgeny Mironyuk.
- According to the SuperJob poll, in 2023, three out of ten Russians have a positive attitude to such an opportunity and want to establish a ban on issuing loans to themselves," he said. - Previously, the risk group included borrowers who leaked personal data (text format) and copies of personal documents, or the citizen himself passed copies of personal documents to dubious organizations. Now a much larger number of Russians are at risk.
Most banking transactions, he said, have already been digitized and can be conducted remotely using more traditional methods of identification. The new service of opening various accounts by biometrics will not significantly affect the reduction of the load of bank branches and support lines.
"Izvestia" sent a request to the Central Bank, but at the time of publication no response had been received.
Digitalization of services
Earlier, Vladislav Povolotsky, General Director of the Center for Biometric Technologies, operator of the unified biometric system, noted that the number of citizens submitting biometric data is constantly growing.
"Already about 2, 5 million citizens (...) have surrendered their biometric data. We have a daily increase of 3 thousand people who (...) surrender their biometric data and use this service," he said.
At the same time, according to experts, the growth in the number of those who have surrendered biometrics indicates an increase in "trust in the information system" and also gives "an understanding of the popularization of the use of certain services".
Now biometric data are accepted by more than 180 banks, whose branches cover 95% of the territory of the Russian Federation. To enter subways and pay for inexpensive purchases, biometrics can be submitted through a special mobile application "Gosuservices Biometrics".
In addition, in the office of Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko noted that the service of service in MFC on biometrics without presenting a passport is launched in Russia, for the first time the technology is implemented in Chelyabinsk, and by the end of the year it will appear in Lipetsk and Leningrad regions.
To confirm identity, a visitor will only need to look into the camera installed on the automated workplace of the MFC employee. After identification, the operator of the center will have a pre-filled application for the service. This will increase the speed of service to visitors and simplify the process of receiving services.
However, the office of Dmitry Grigorenko emphasized that the use of biometrics is voluntary and is an addition to the already existing ways of service.
"As a result, the person himself chooses how exactly it is more convenient for him to receive the service - by passport or with the use of biometrics," - added representatives of the head of the Government Office.
It is noted that the new way of service will be available to those who have registered confirmed biometrics in a unified biometric system. It can be handed in person in 12 thousand banks across the country.
Responsibility for data
Against the background of active digitalization, the President signed a law that expands the list of violations related to the processing of biometric personal data and introduces fines for their commission.
For example, a fine is introduced for violations in the processing of biometrics in the unified biometric system, in the information systems of government agencies, the Central Bank of the Russian Federation or accredited organizations, as well as for failure to comply with the requirements for information technologies and technical means in such processing. The fine for civil servants will be up to Br300 thousand, for companies - up to Br1 million. In addition, officials will be fined up to Br500 thousand and legal entities - up to Br1.5 million for the lack of necessary security measures for biometric data during their processing in these systems. Lack of necessary accreditation (as well as its suspension or termination) will result in a penalty of up to Br500 thousand for civil servants, and up to Br2 million for companies.
Such changes have led to a threefold increase in demand for data processing compliance analysis and protection in Russia. According to representatives of IS company Angara Security, a big wave of interest is also expected in 2025.
In 2023, 1.12 billion personal data records were leaked to the Web, up nearly 60% from 2022, according to InfoWatch research. A total of 95 large databases leaked from Russian companies.
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