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Validate phone number records in South Africa, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya
Screen users against over 1100+ global sanctions, PEP, adverse media watchlists and 170K+ news sources.
Retrieve personal information from government records and match a selfie to official ID photo.
Match personal information against official government records.
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Retrieve personal information from official government records.
Verify the authenticity of an ID document and match a selfie to the ID card photo.
Emmanuel Agwu
Traditional KYC methods often rely on documents that many individuals in this demographic do not possess. This especially affects the unbanked population, who do not have a valid form of ID to access the digital ecosystem. Phone number verification offers a low-friction alternative that leverages the ubiquity of mobile phones to authenticate identities, thereby bridging the gap and bringing financial services to a broader audience.
According to the Communications Authority of Kenya, mobile penetration has surpassed 66% as of 2023, making phone number verification emerges as a pivotal tool for quick KYC onboarding. This innovative solution not only streamlines the customer onboarding process but also ensures compliance with stringent regulatory standards, making it indispensable for businesses aiming to expand their reach and enhance security.
Here, we discussed the significance of phone number verification in Kenya, exploring how it can be used to facilitate low-level KYC onboarding, improve customer experience, and ensure regulatory compliance.
Phone number verification is a process used to ensure that a given phone number is valid, active, and actually belongs to the individual claiming ownership. This is achieved by verifying the user's phone number against authority databases and matching personal information data like the name and ID number. This verification method is particularly useful in regions with high mobile phone usage, such as Kenya.
By confirming that a phone number is legitimate and belongs to the correct person, businesses can verify a user’s identity to reduce fraud, improve security, and comply with KYC regulations for quick onboarding.
Phone number verification is crucial for KYC onboarding in Kenya for several reasons:
Phone number verification plays a crucial role in KYC onboarding in Kenya for several reasons. Firstly, it provides a reliable means of verifying the identity of customers, ensuring that businesses comply with regulatory requirements. This is particularly important in a country where a significant portion of the population remains unbanked. By leveraging phone number verification, businesses can onboard customers more efficiently, reducing the risk of fraud and identity theft.
Moreover, phone number verification enhances the customer experience by simplifying the onboarding process. Customers can quickly verify their identities using their phone numbers without the need for extensive documentation. This convenience is especially beneficial for the unbanked population, who may have limited access to traditional identification methods. By offering a seamless and user-friendly verification process, businesses can improve customer satisfaction and retention.
Follow the steps below to verify a phone number using Smile ID’s solution:
Collect the customer's phone number and optional fields such as name, gender, and personal identity number through your onboarding form.
Submit information to our Identity Verification API to query the government database using only the phone number.
Results will return a value of no match, partial match, or exact match, along with detailed data from specific fields that match.
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If a phone number is not listed or entered incorrectly, the system will return a "record not found" result. Furthermore, the service can identify if the entered phone number is invalid for the selected country, allowing for immediate adjustments and ensuring the accuracy of the information.
Smile ID's Phone Number Verification solution is designed to be a comprehensive, low-friction service that facilitates KYC onboarding in Kenya. Covering over 47 million phone number records in Kenya, this service ensures accurate and efficient verification.
Phone number verification is an essential tool for KYC onboarding in Kenya, offering a secure, efficient, and inclusive method for verifying customer identities. With the widespread use of mobile phones and the need for stringent KYC compliance, this verification method is invaluable for businesses.
Smile ID's Phone Number Verification product offers businesses a low-friction way of quickly onboarding users via phone numbers. This product enhances security, improves customer experience, and ensures regulatory compliance.
Book a free demo today to learn more.
We are equipped to help you level up your KYC/AML compliance stack. Our team is ready to understand your needs, answer questions, and set up your account.