If you're working in a public sector organisation, your departments are under constant pressure to maintain high levels of accuracy. With the growing incidents of fraud across the UK, the room for error is not just, but very expensive. The Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA) estimates the level of fraud and error between £39.8 billion and £58.5 billion in 2021-22. These estimates include tax and welfare fraud.
Councils and local authorities are required to conduct stringent verifications rapidly and on a large scale. Unfortunately, traditional methods that rely on document scanning and manual checks are often slow, prone to errors, and vulnerable to fraud. These processes can also exclude a significant portion of the population who do not possess conventional forms of identification like passports or driving licences.
Adding to the challenge is that citizens, accustomed to seamless digital experiences, now expect the same level of efficiency from every sector and service. They demand minimal friction and maximum ease, a standard the public sector must strive to meet.
Public sector organisations need a solution that:
- Reduces fraud and minimises errors
- Drives cost efficiencies and speeds up processes
- Maximises ease and inclusivity
Bank-verified digital identity — one answer to the public sector's many challenges
While councils and government organisations are already using digitised identity — the process of scanning and uploading a physical ID document — it lacks the seamlessness a truly digital identity solution, like bank-based digital identity verification, can deliver.
Bank-based digital identity verification is the process of using the identity data that banks have about their customers in a completely digital document-free way to prove an individual is who they say they are. The result is a fast, secure journey that can be completed instantly from any device.
Making identity verification easy like 1,2 and 3.
Identity service providers like OneID® use bank-verified data to offer a straightforward verification process. Individuals simply log in to their online banking account or mobile app and consent to share their data. The OneID® API securely transmits this data to the requesting authority, completing the process in seconds without needing document scans or selfies.
Strengthening fraud prevention measures
As the solution's name suggests, bank-verified data uses identity data that has passed through the banks' stringent Know Your Customer (KYC) and Custome Due Diligence (CDD) checks. By leveraging up-to-date, vetted data from banks and eliminating document scanning—which is susceptible to fraudulent documents—OneID® minimises the possibility of fraud and offers stronger identity assurance.
Reducing costs and enhancing efficiencies
With no manual identity verification processes, duplication of efforts, or errors to fix, you can save on overhead expenses and speed up your processes.
Enabling wider reach
Anyone with an online banking account can prove their identity using bank-verified data. OneID®, for instance, reaches 90% of UK adults, making it one of the most inclusive identity verification solutions available. While traditional methods often exclude those without passports or driving licences, OneID® provides a reliable option for those who have online banking accounts.
Where can UK public sector organisations use bank ID?
Pre-employment screening
Cut down the time needed for pre-employment screening. For services like the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), bank-based digital identity verification reduces the time taken from days to seconds.
Account setup and payment verification
Simplify the process of setting up accounts and verifying payment details. Using bank-verified data, councils and local authorities can quickly and securely autofill direct debit mandates for council tax, streamline the KYC process, and confirm account ownership for account recovery.
Combat benefits fraud and error
Ensure that payments, such as benefits, are made to the correct individuals. By verifying identities and auto-filling verified bank account details, solutions like OneID® can reduce the risk of payment fraud and disputes, ensuring that funds reach the intended recipients.
Increase efficiency in the delivery of citizen services
Streamline and speed up the process of applying for parking permits, alcohol licences, and more. Digitise your interactions to enable easy access to local services and reduce the operational costs of manual application processing.
OneID® — named supplier on Crown Commercial Services
OneID® is the only open banking-based identity verification provider on the Crown Commercial Services (CCS) Open Banking Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS). This framework allows public sector bodies, including local authorities, the NHS, and government departments, to access services designed to reduce fraud, enable payments, and establish affordability. OneID®'s inclusion in this system reflects its commitment to privacy, inclusivity, and data transparency.
To discover how OneID® can address identity verification and onboarding challenges in your organisation, visit oneid.uk/gov.
