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Identity checking and scoring

How the Identity and verification system works and scores applications

Adrian Davies avatar
Written by Adrian Davies
Updated over 2 years ago

The identity check is configured at a basic level to provide you with sufficient information to verify an individual is who they say they are. 

If you receive an 'accept' when verifying identity, this meets the requirements set by the Money Laundering Regulations. 

An accept is a score of 35. A score below 35 returns a fail. 35 is the maximum score that is returned.  

ID check

An ID score of up to 35 points score is derived from data held by the TransUnion database:

  • 10 points are awarded if two primary identity and address checks are found (as required by the Joint Money Laundering Steering Group) 

  • 20 points are awarded if the individual is found on the TransUnion database

  • 5 points are deducted if the applicant has been on AN electoral roll for less than 12 months 

ID warnings

The following trigger a decline because 20 points are deducted when the applicant is any of the following:

  • A Politically Exposed Person (Pep)

  • On the UK sanctions list

  • A special Designated Person (this is a global version of the UK’s sanction list)

  • Reported as being deceased 

Date of birth confirmation

  • 5 points are awarded if 49% of dates of birth match that provided by the member. 

If the individual matches against all of the points above, an accept decision is returned with a score of 35.  

If the individual has a recency warning against their address a refer is returned because 5 points are deducted. 

Interpreting the scores

A score under 35 does not necessarily mean that the individual's application for membership and / or a loan should be rejected. 

The dashboard will return a list of confirmatory checks. Where an ID warning has been triggered the application for membership is likely to be rejected. The ID warnings are:

  • The applicant is a Politically Exposed Person

  • The applicant is on a sanctions list

  • The applicant is a Special Designated National

  • The applicant has been reported as deceased

If the identity checks produce a fail, the credit union will need to consider obtaining paper-based versions of documents to assess the identity of the individual. The identity checks are:

  • At least two primary items of identification confirm the applicant’s details name and address

  • The applicant has been found on the TransUnion database

If the applicant has failed these tests it is because they have a 'thin credit file'. 

If the applicant fails the electoral roll test, but passed all other checks a score of 30 is returned. A score of 30 still meets the Money Laundering Regulations checks and the applicant can be invited into membership.

If the applicant passes all other tests, but fails the date of birth check, a score of 30 will be returned. A score of 30 still meets the Money Laundering Regulations checks and the applicant can be invited into membership. However the credit union may wish to consider requesting an item of documentation that shows the applicant's date of birth, such as a driving licence, proof of age card or passport.

 

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