Bustling with biometric bank accounts

(NLDO) - Many people are rushing to register for biometric authentication for their bank accounts to avoid having their transactions suspended from the beginning of 2025.

Customers who register for biometrics at Vietcombank after 5 PM on December 17th

According to a reporter from the Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper, recent information that customers will not be able to conduct banking transactions after January 1, 2025, without biometric authentication has caused many people to rush to banks to register. The atmosphere at bank branches has become bustling.

At a Vietcombank branch in Ho Chi Minh City, a notice board at the entrance states that customers will have their transactions suspended from 2025 if they have not completed biometric registration. To meet the increased demand, the bank has extended its operating hours from 5 PM to 6:30 PM, including Saturdays and Sundays.

Bank staff recommend that customers visit during these hours to avoid long waits, as business hours are often used for other purposes.

Ms. Le Thanh Tam (a Vietcombank customer) shared that because she previously opened her account using her old identity card, she now has to update her information with the new chip-embedded citizen ID card, which makes the registration process longer.

Another customer, Tran Viet Thanh, said that Vietcombank staff received personal information such as phone number, email, and data from the VNeID application before using the chip reader to take photos for verification. "In just 5 minutes, I completed biometric verification," he said.

Bank employees process biometric-related information.

At Agribank , outside of regular business hours, the bank's 2,300 transaction points nationwide remain open from 5 PM to 6:30 PM every day, including Saturdays and Sundays, to assist customers with biometric registration.

At some Eximbank and VietBank branches, thanks to the availability of facial recognition scanners and data connectivity, customers only need to present their chip-embedded citizen identity card, and the registration process is completed in just a few minutes.

Conversely, some other banks use manual methods, which are difficult and time-consuming. Mr. Nguyen Phuoc, a Sacombank customer, said it took him more than 30 minutes to complete the biometric registration.

According to Mr. Phuoc, the reason was that his phone did not support NFC for ID verification. Bank staff had to use a supporting device to process the transaction, but the customer had to manually enter the password on an unfamiliar device, leading to multiple errors and requiring a new password reset. Furthermore, after registration, he still had to access the Sacombank PAY app to complete facial recognition and account linking, making the process longer than expected.

Many banks have stated that the end of the year is a time of high transaction volume, and customers need to update their biometrics and valid identification documents to avoid service disruptions. This information ensures that accounts are used by the account holder, helping to minimize financial fraud and protect customers from scams.

According to regulations from the State Bank of Vietnam, from January 1, 2025, customers can only perform transactions such as withdrawing/depositing money, transferring funds, paying bills, or conducting transactions at ATMs after completing biometric registration and updating their personal identification documents.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/nguoi-dan-do-xo-den-ngan-hang-xac-thuc-sinh-trac-hoc-196241218120515445.htm