National Australia Bank deploys encrypted IDs to fight identity fraud

Queensland customers can share mobile licence details without presenting physical documents.

National Australia Bank (NAB) is introducing encrypted digital identity verification in selected Queensland branches, allowing customers to share their mobile driver’s licence directly with the bank.

The technology makes NAB the first Australian bank to announce tamper-proof encrypted identity verification in branches. 

It allows customers to transfer information from their Queensland digital driver’s licence to NAB without manually entering details or presenting physical documents.

Customers open their digital licence on their mobile device and approve an information request from their banker. 

The licence details are then transferred through an automated, secure data exchange.

NAB Executive, Onboarding & Identity Management Claire Righetti said the process would make identity checks faster and more secure.

“With just a few taps, customers can share tamper-proof, verifiable credentials directly from their mobile device, which is more secure and faster than manual data entry or using physical documents,” Righetti said.

The rollout is starting in Queensland because its mobile driver’s licence uses an internationally recognised encryption standard that meets NAB’s security and technical requirements.

NAB plans to extend the technology to other states as compatible technology and solutions become available.

The move adds to NAB’s existing biometric verification technology, including its ‘Take a Selfie’ feature, which checks whether a customer matches their identity document during onboarding.

NAB Head of Identity Management Si Phan said digital identity technology would help the bank respond to increasingly sophisticated AI-powered scams and identity theft.

“Identity theft is often the first step criminals use to carry out scams and fraud,” Phan said.

The bank said it would work with state governments and relevant authorities to expand the technology to more customers.