<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2025/05/RBI%20Digital%20Lending%20guidelines%20Thumbnail.webp" alt="RBI 2025 Digital Lending Directives" title="" id="hno84fjdl" width="100%" height="317">The RBI is setting the stage for the next phase of India’s digital lending journey. With Digital Lending Directions, 2025 announced on May 8, the RBI is prioritizing borrower protection, platform accountability, and end-to-end transparency.&nbsp;Let’s explore what these landmark changes mean for the future of digital lending in India.&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="nnpwuq1kj" style="text-align: left">Digital lending in India&nbsp;</h2>India’s digital lending ecosystem has witnessed remarkable growth, making credit more accessible than ever, with borrowers tapping into a diverse network of digital lending apps and platforms. This rapid evolution is fueled by tech-savvy population, widespread smartphone adoption, and the rise of data-powered credit assessment models.&nbsp;However, this surge has also raised concerns around data privacy, predatory recovery practices, and a lack of transparency in borrower-lender interactions. To address these challenges, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced the Digital Lending Directions, 2025—a comprehensive regulatory framework aimed at safeguarding consumer interests, fostering responsible innovation, and establishing clearer governance across the digital lending landscape.&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="fa1cfd2l4" style="text-align: left">Key proposals in the RBI digital lending directions 2025&nbsp;</h2>The new directions consolidate earlier guidelines and introduce robust measures for both regulated entities (REs) and their lending service providers (LSPs).&nbsp;<ul class="list-node" id="z72fkltyb"><li>Transparent multi-lender platforms - LSPs working with multiple lenders - must now provide borrowers with a clear, unbiased comparison of all available loan offers. Every lender and loan option must be transparently disclosing hidden choices or misleading designs—empowering borrowers to make fully informed decisions.&nbsp;</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="x2d72b0fp"><li>Clarified LSP definition - Only digital service providers directly involved in lending operations qualify as LSPs, with others falling under outsourcing regulations.&nbsp;</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="qc3zc20uj"><li>Enhanced LSP due diligence - Regulated Entities (REs) are required to clearly define roles and responsibilities in contracts with LSPs, conduct regular audits, and continuously monitor loan portfolios.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="ejunv39cd"><li>Mandatory DLA reporting - All DLAs must be registered and reported to RBI’s Centralized Information Management System (CIMS) by June 15, 2025, ensuring regulatory visibility and accountability. Non-compliance will lead to penalties.&nbsp;</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="iqus39oz2"><li>Cooling-off period - Borrowers can now exit a loan, penalty-free, during a board-approved cooling-off period (minimum one day). Only when the loan is disclosed, a one-time processing fee may be charged. This gives borrowers room to reconsider their decisions, reducing regret and pressure&nbsp;</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="dlm844inx"><li>Default Loss Guarantee (DLG) - Existing DLG rules remain, but now every lender must have a board-approved policy defining DLG terms, caps, and monitoring. This ensures DLG arrangements don’t encourage reckless lending or off-balance sheet risks.&nbsp;</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="p7ylpk3pi"><li>Penal charges disclosure - No more annualized disclosure of loans would be required and in the current scenario, charges to be shown event-wise, as per KFS format.&nbsp;</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="k16uhab0t"><li>No auto credit limit hikes - Lenders can’t increase a borrower’s credit limit without an explicit request and consent from the borrower, ending the era of surprise debt traps.&nbsp;</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="cnk4ms0yh"><li>Data localization - All borrower data must be stored on servers in India. If processed abroad, it must be deleted and returned within 24 hours, reinforcing India’s digital sovereignty and borrower privacy.&nbsp;</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="917bfcnuq"><li>Cash recovery allowed - Physical agents can collect repayments in cash, but the funds must be credited to the borrower’s account the same day. Any recovery fees are paid by the lender, not the borrower, ensuring fair and ethical recovery practices.&nbsp;</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="p6nix8tgi"><li>Grievance redressal - Both REs and LSPs must have designated grievance officers, with contact details clearly visible on websites and DLAs. Borrowers must be able to file complaints online, and lenders remain ultimately responsible for resolution.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul><h3 class="heading-node" id="q2wnph39c">Impact on borrowers &amp; lenders&nbsp;</h3><h3 class="heading-node" id="olahfobml">For borrowers&nbsp;</h3><ul class="list-node" id="um5o4pedo"><li>Transparent loan experience - Borrowers now receive clear, digitally signed Key Fact Statements (KFS) outlining all charges, interest rates, and terms-eliminating hidden fees.&nbsp;</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="rztvyoyx3"><li>Borrower-friendly exit options - A mandatory cooling-off period allows borrowers to exit a penalty-free loan (except for a disclosed, one-time processing fee), reducing pressure and regret.&nbsp;</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="48i027jc6"><li>Enhanced data privacy &amp; control - Borrowers have greater control over their personal data, with explicit consent required for data collection and sharing, and the right to revoke consent at any time.&nbsp;</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="06a58raxn"><li>Easy grievance redressal &amp; ethical recovery - Borrowers have direct access to grievance officers and online complaint options, while recovery practices are made fair-cash collections must be credited on the same day, and recovery fees are paid by lenders, not borrowers.&nbsp;</li></ul><h3 class="heading-node" id="xy723k9li">For lenders&nbsp;</h3><ul class="list-node" id="neuze0hui"><li>Stricter compliance &amp; reporting - All digital lending activities must be auditable and fully compliant, with mandatory DLA registration and reporting to RBI’s CIMS portal for greater regulatory visibility.&nbsp;</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="jjcn85d8z"><li>Robust LSP oversight - Lenders must clearly define roles and responsibilities with Lending Service Providers (LSPs), conduct regular audits, and monitor loan portfolios to ensure high standards and close compliance gaps.&nbsp;</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="owlrb0pn9"><li>Direct fund flows &amp; operational controls - Loans must be disbursed directly to borrowers and repayments routed only to regulated entities, minimizing misuse and ensuring transparency in fund flows.&nbsp;</li></ul><h2 class="heading-node" id="l6edz815g">How is Finflux by M2P helping lenders stay ahead?&nbsp;</h2>Finflux by M2P is helping lenders stay ahead of the RBI Digital Lending Directions, 2025 by offering a robust, compliant-first digital lending platform that aligns with the latest regulatory mandates. Here's how:&nbsp;<ul class="list-node" id="9517xz87s"><li>Configurable and compliant workflows - Lenders can configure how offers are displayed and ensure all regulatory disclosures are met. Our platform is ready for November 1, 2025, compliance deadline, so lenders can adopt multi-lender transparency without delay.&nbsp;</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="75ylnrtah"><li>Real-time monitoring &amp; audit trails – Our platform offers comprehensive dashboards and audit logs to track all LSP activities in real time. Lenders can monitor loan origination, servicing, and customer interactions, making it easy to spot anomalies, enforce standards, and maintain a detailed audit trail for regulatory scrutiny.&nbsp;</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="jdjubwo6d"><li>Configurable DLG policy management – Our lending suite allows lenders to set up and manage board-approved DLG policies directly within the platform. You can define DLG terms and conditions, Portfolio exposure caps (as per RBI limits), and eligible instruments (e.g., fixed deposits, bank guarantees).&nbsp;</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="04s944hs9"><li>Robust data security: Advanced data localization and privacy controls align with RBI’s stringent data protection requirements.&nbsp;</li></ul><h2 class="heading-node" id="un8dyvw4y" style="text-align: left">Setting the standard for future-ready lending&nbsp;</h2>As RBI’s Digital Lending Directions 2025 ushers in a new era of accountability and transparency, meeting these regulatory standards now demands more than just digital infrastructure. It requires intelligent, adaptable systems that can keep pace with evolving compliance, borrower protection, and operational best practices.&nbsp;&nbsp;At Finflux by M2P, we’re not just enabling lenders to meet the RBI’s 2025 digital lending directions—we’re empowering them to lead with trust, transparency, and technology. With our API-first, fully compliant lending suite, you can streamline operations, accelerate growth, and deliver the trust and transparency today’s borrowers expect.&nbsp;Ready to future-proof your lending business?&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="link Hyperlink SCXW176630351 BCX8" href="https://m2pfintech.com/contact-us/?activeKey=1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Schedule a demo</a> today.&nbsp;<a class="link fui-Link ___1idfs5o f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1hu3pq6 f11qmguv f19f4twv f1tyq0we f1g0x7ka fhxju0i f1qch9an f1cnd47f fqv5qza f1vmzxwi f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh ftqa4ok f2hkw1w fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1h8hb77 f1x7u7e9 f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox.Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link fui-Link ___1idfs5o f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1hu3pq6 f11qmguv f19f4twv f1tyq0we f1g0x7ka fhxju0i f1qch9an f1cnd47f fqv5qza f1vmzxwi f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh ftqa4ok f2hkw1w fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1h8hb77 f1x7u7e9 f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link fui-Link ___1idfs5o f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1hu3pq6 f11qmguv f19f4twv f1tyq0we f1g0x7ka fhxju0i f1qch9an f1cnd47f fqv5qza f1vmzxwi f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh ftqa4ok f2hkw1w fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1h8hb77 f1x7u7e9 f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech bytes curated for curious minds like you.

Simplify RBI 2025 Digital Lending Compliance with Our Smart Lending Solution

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2023/12/Learning-from-mistakes-banner-2-1.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" id="by9un3ux7" width="100%" height="487">Learning from mistakes is an essential part of engineering practice. Mistakes can lead to significant milestones that transform design, process, and overall outcome. To know how, read this blog. Our Engineering Director, <a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/maathavan-tr-vinayak-2ab153a3/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maathavan Vinayak</a>, takes you through proven strategies that normalize mistakes and transform them into catalysts for continuous learning and improvement.<h2 class="heading-node" id="ygy40wx68" style="text-align: justify">Create a Culture of Openness</h2>Encourage engineers to report and discuss mistakes without fear of judgment or blame. Foster an environment where team members feel comfortable admitting errors and sharing their learnings.<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2023/12/Learning-from-mistakes-1.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="487"><h2 class="heading-node" id="sp600ppnd" style="text-align: justify">Establish Clear Processes</h2>Implement a formal process for investigating mistakes, identifying root causes, and documenting lessons learned. This process should be standardized across teams and projects to ensure consistent learning across the organization.<h2 class="heading-node" id="75e7u8c1w" style="text-align: justify">Analyze Root Cause&nbsp;</h2>Go beyond simply identifying the immediate cause of a mistake and dig deeper to understand the underlying systemic issues that contributed to the error. This may involve reviewing design documents, analyzing process flows, and interviewing stakeholders.<h2 class="heading-node" id="hx5ygua8e" style="text-align: justify">Implement Corrective Actions</h2>Once the root causes have been identified, develop, and implement effective corrective actions to address the underlying issues and prevent similar mistakes from recurring. This may involve design modifications, process improvements, or training initiatives.<h2 class="heading-node" id="7dmutodf7" style="text-align: justify">Communicate Lessons Learned</h2>Share the findings of mistake investigations and the lessons learned with the broader engineering community. This can be done through team meetings, documentation, or dedicated knowledge-sharing platforms.<h2 class="heading-node" id="1zgvbwnkv" style="text-align: justify">Use Insights for Future Improvement</h2>Integrate the insights gained from mistake analysis into future design reviews, process development discussions, and quality assurance procedures. This ensures that lessons learned are embedded in ongoing engineering activities.<h2 class="heading-node" id="a549a2j3k" style="text-align: justify">Document Wisdom</h2>Keep a record of lessons learned from each mistake. Documenting your experiences, along with the insights gained, helps create a reference for future situations. This can be in the form of a personal journal, team retrospective, or project documentation.<h2 class="heading-node" id="fhgcg4qhu" style="text-align: justify">Share Knowledge</h2>Share your experiences with others. Discussing mistakes openly fosters a culture of learning and helps prevent similar errors in the future. It also demonstrates vulnerability and encourages others to share their experiences.<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2023/12/Learning-from-mistakes-2.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="487"><h2 class="heading-node" id="id7m285wl" style="text-align: justify">Be Proactive to Prevent Mistakes</h2>Employ tools and methodologies such as Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), hazard analysis, and risk management techniques to proactively identify and address potential mistakes before they occur.<h2 class="heading-node" id="0vibwyykk" style="text-align: justify">Foster Learning&nbsp;</h2>Encourage a growth mindset among engineers, emphasizing the value of learning from mistakes as an opportunity for improvement and innovation. Recognize and reward individuals who contribute to mistake prevention and learning initiatives.<h2 class="heading-node" id="0z5206u6a" style="text-align: justify">Take Ownership</h2>Give engineers ownership of their work and encourage them to identify and address potential mistakes proactively. Empower them to suggest improvements and implement corrective actions within their scope of responsibility.<h2 class="heading-node" id="8w1pk8sfh" style="text-align: justify">Improve Continuously&nbsp;</h2>Regularly evaluate and refine the processes for identifying, analyzing, and learning from mistakes. This will ensure that the learning process is effective and adaptive to the evolving needs of the engineering function. By incorporating these strategies, engineering teams can transform mistakes into milestones and pave the way for a culture centered around learning and continuous improvement. The proactive approach not only reduces errors but also elevates design quality and creates superior outcomes for projects and products. Now, it's your turn to share. What's your most valuable lesson learned from a mistake in your engineering journey? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. <a class="link fui-Link ___1qmgydl f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1hu3pq6 f11qmguv f19f4twv f1tyq0we f1g0x7ka fhxju0i f1qch9an f1cnd47f fqv5qza f1vmzxwi f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh ftqa4ok f2hkw1w fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1h8hb77 f1x7u7e9 f10aw75t fsle3fq" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox. Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link fui-Link ___1qmgydl f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1hu3pq6 f11qmguv f19f4twv f1tyq0we f1g0x7ka fhxju0i f1qch9an f1cnd47f fqv5qza f1vmzxwi f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh ftqa4ok f2hkw1w fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1h8hb77 f1x7u7e9 f10aw75t fsle3fq" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link fui-Link ___1qmgydl f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1hu3pq6 f11qmguv f19f4twv f1tyq0we f1g0x7ka fhxju0i f1qch9an f1cnd47f fqv5qza f1vmzxwi f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh ftqa4ok f2hkw1w fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1h8hb77 f1x7u7e9 f10aw75t fsle3fq" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">X</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech bytes curated for curious minds like you.

How can Engineers Turn Mistakes into Wins?

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2023/06/MicrosoftTeams-image-19.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="358">Aadhaar data needs to be treated securely. According to the RBI and Government of India mandate, organizations that collect and store identity details must mask the first 8 digits of the Aadhaar number and reveal only the last 4 for security and compliance. Whether it's for government subsidies, income tax filing, or opening bank accounts, Aadhaar numbers must be validated and masked.&nbsp; <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/edo-suite-mask-aadhaar-in-an-instant-the-right-way/">Aadhaar masking tools</a>&nbsp;use Verhoeff algorithm, a checksum algorithm to validate, detect errors and ensure the integrity of the masked Aadhaar number. At M2P, we implemented Verhoeff algorithm on <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/the-implications-of-flutter-in-fintech/">Flutter.</a> Wonder how?&nbsp;&nbsp; Our engineer, <a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nandhakumar-k-14828813a/">Nandhakumar Krishnan,</a> delves deep into the step-by-step implementation of the Verhoeff algorithm in Flutter, which guarantees the authenticity of these crucial identification numbers. &nbsp;&nbsp; Before we embark on the journey, it's important to understand the relationship between Aadhaar numbers and Verhoeff algorithm.&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="vuzgmdwit" style="text-align: justify">Aadhaar Number and Verhoeff Algorithm</h2>Aadhaar numbers are generated by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and are linked to an individual's biometric and demographic information, including fingerprints, iris scans, and photographs.&nbsp;The Aadhaar number comprises 12 digits, out of which 11 digits are uniquely generated, and the last digit is the checksum.&nbsp;&nbsp; The checksum is derived from the Verhoeff algorithm using a series of mathematical calculations. The result of these calculations is used to determine the appropriate checksum digit. By appending the checksum digit to the 11-digit portion of the Aadhaar number, the Verhoeff algorithm enables easy detection of errors or discrepancies that occurs during data entry or transmission. If any of the digits are altered, the resulting Aadhaar number will fail the checksum validation.&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="ba2ymaxxe" style="text-align: justify">How to Implement the Verhoeff Algorithm?</h2>To begin implementing check digit algorithms, it is necessary to create an abstract class as a foundation for the process. This abstract class will serve as a basis for incorporating the Verhoeff algorithm and its functionality within the code.&nbsp;<h3 class="heading-node" id="ofatx47uq" style="text-align: justify">The abstract class&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3><img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2023/06/MicrosoftTeams-image-15-1.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="329"><ul class="list-node" id="vybjsesus"><li>In order to proceed, it is important to consider the multiplication table, permutation table, and the inverse table.&nbsp;</li><li>This table is based on multiplication in the dihedral group D5 and is simply the Cayley table of the group.&nbsp;</li></ul>Note: This group is not commutative, i.e., for some values of j and k, d(j,k) != d(k, j).&nbsp;<h3 class="heading-node" id="34hzoigau" style="text-align: justify">The multiplication table&nbsp;</h3><img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2023/06/MicrosoftTeams-image-16-1.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="329"><ul class="list-node" id="vjitqhkix"><li>In the inverse table, ‘inv’ represents the multiplicative inverse of a digit, i.e., the value that satisfies d(j, inv(j)) = 0.&nbsp;</li></ul><h3 class="heading-node" id="hou5ebcnk" style="text-align: justify">The inverse table</h3><img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2023/06/MicrosoftTeams-image-17-1.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="91"><ul class="list-node" id="oyyt75fzn"><li>In the permutation table, p applies a permutation to each digit based on its position in the number.&nbsp;</li><li>p(pos,num)&nbsp;</li><li>This is a single permutation (1 5 8 9 4 2 7 0)(3 6) applied iteratively; i.e., p(i+j,n) = p(i, p(j,n)).&nbsp;</li></ul><h3 class="heading-node" id="avp8mfh7v" style="text-align: justify">The permutation table&nbsp;</h3><img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2023/06/MicrosoftTeams-image-18-1.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="284">Next, we must compute the Verhoeff checksum formula.&nbsp;<h3 class="heading-node" id="tl7qvwiot" style="text-align: justify">Generating the checksum formula</h3><img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2023/06/MicrosoftTeams-image-19-2.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="616"><img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2023/06/MicrosoftTeams-image-27.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="556"> &nbsp; The above snippet generates a checksum for the given Aadhaar number. The validate function then verifies that the checksum matches the last digit of the Aadhaar number. If they are the same, then the Aadhaar number is considered valid.&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="kgk26r6mb" style="text-align: justify">Implementing the Verhoeff Algorithm in Flutter&nbsp;</h2>To implement the Verhoeff algorithm in your Flutter application, follow these steps:&nbsp; Step 1: Import the Verhoeff algorithm class&nbsp;<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2023/06/MicrosoftTeams-image-28.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="162">Step 2: Validate and check the digit of the user provided Aadhaar number Note: Ensure that the user inputs a number without any spaces or characters.&nbsp; The Verhoeff algorithm computes the checksum and validates the input Aadhaar number.&nbsp;&nbsp; If the computed checksum matches the last digit of the Aadhaar number, it means that the number is validated.&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="vill8wfzc" style="text-align: justify">Indispensable Layer of Security&nbsp;</h2>The Verhoeff algorithm prevents manual errors and ensures the integrity of Aadhaar numbers. This implementation adds an extra layer of protection and reliability when handling Aadhaar numbers, contributing to the overall authenticity of this vital identification system.&nbsp; The use case of the algorithm is not limited to Aadhaar numbers alone. It can be used to validate credit card numbers, phone numbers, and product codes, making it an essential tool in today's data-driven world.&nbsp; Want to know about Aadhaar validation and masking?&nbsp;&nbsp; Get in touch with us at <a class="link" href="mailto:business@m2pfintech.com">business@m2pfintech.com</a>&nbsp; <a class="link fui-Link ___1qmgydl f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1hu3pq6 f11qmguv f19f4twv f1tyq0we f1g0x7ka fhxju0i f1qch9an f1cnd47f fqv5qza f1vmzxwi f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh ftqa4ok f2hkw1w fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1h8hb77 f1x7u7e9 f10aw75t fsle3fq" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox. 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Validate Aadhaar numbers using the Verhoeff Algorithm in Flutter

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/10/e-KYC-2.0-in-Egypt-blog_1-02.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="236">The last 6 years have been the fintech era for Egypt. Its rather traditional financial system has been steadily progressing toward digitalization. Recent reports affirm that the country is turning into the entrepreneurial hotspot for burgeoning fintech startups in North Africa, and its financial services sector is expected to grow at 12% yearly until 2025. The growth can be attributed to the thriving fintech adoption in North Africa, the boost in internet usage in Egypt, and most importantly, the government's commitment to attaining its Vision 2030.<h2 class="heading-node" id="wpgeh9ggx">Financial Digitalization&nbsp;</h2> In light of the Vision, the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) designed and developed numerous policies with the prime objective of improving the <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/fintech-a-catalyst-for-financial-inclusion/">financial inclusion</a> of the country as well as transforming the nation into the regional hub for fintech innovations. One such approach is digitalization in the financial services industry. Digitalization is one of the three strategic pillars of Egypt's Vision 2030, which aligns with the country's allegiance to the <a class="link" href="https://www.undp.org/sustainable-development-goals">United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).</a> The Vision's framework holistically fosters the transformation of Egypt into a digital or cash-free economy. With over 95 million young, unbanked/underbanked population, Egypt exhibits an extended appetite for digitalization, inclusion, and fintech innovations.According to <a class="link" href="https://www.mastercard.com/news/eemea/en/newsroom/press-releases/press-releases/en/2022/august/mastercard-new-payment-index-2022-consumers-in-egypt-embrace-digital-payments/">Mastercard's New Payment Index 2022 report</a>, 61% of Egyptian banking customers feel safe using mobile apps to send money to people or make payments to both online and offline merchants. In addition, 42% (i.e., four in ten) are keen to share their financial data to access payment tools/mobile applications that help them manage their finances.In 2021, Egypt's digital banking system witnessed an enormous upswing in mobile banking transactions. While the number of digital banking transactions increased by 107%, the value climbed by 159%. The number of internet banking users increased by 30% (y-o-y), and the value of transactions through digital channels increased by 60%. Further, the number of transactions over mobile wallets surged 108% reaching 212 million transactions, and e-commerce grew by 34% registering 60.3 million transactions. The value of electronic purchases using bank cards increased by 40% and climbed to EGP 23 billion from EGP 14 billion in the fiscal year 2019/2020. Overall, the banking system processed electronic transactions worth EGP 2.8 trillion during the fiscal year (FY) 2020/2021.<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/10/e-KYC-2.0-in-Egypt-blog_1-.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="236"> Mobile wallets covered a substantial fraction in the digitalization leap. Mobile wallet transactions rose to 268 billion EGP in 2021 from 88 billion EGP in 2020, attaining a 200 % increase. The number of banks providing electronic wallet services grew to 23, increasing the number of electronic wallets from 9 million in 2020 to 26 million in 2021. On the other hand, e-commerce transactions increased from 16 billion EGP to 30 billion EGP.Furthermore, the volume of government receipts through banking channels has reached more than 662 billion EGP. The volume of annual electronic transactions through electronic points of sale has witnessed a great leap from 110 billion EGP to 170 billion EGP. Such a mammoth uptick in digital adaption significantly scaled the financial ecosystem, calling for streamlined and robust Know Your Customer (<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/know-your-customer-kyc-the-need-for-authentication/">KYC</a>) procedures that are crucial to detect risk factors and avert financial crimes such as identity theft, <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/how-to-combat-money-laundering-2/">money laundering</a>, and terrorist financing.<h2 class="heading-node" id="weyytqtfu">Current KYC regime</h2> Egypt's KYC regime has the following tiers: Full KYC and Simplified KYC. To process a full KYC, FIs require<ul class="list-node" id="j6d4yly7a"><li>National ID&nbsp;</li><li>Customer ID number&nbsp;</li><li>Date of birth</li><li>Gender&nbsp;</li><li>Nationality&nbsp;</li><li>Religion&nbsp;</li><li>Legal form&nbsp;</li><li>Full address</li><li>Mobile and/or Telephone number</li></ul>When simplified KYC was first set up, it required FIs to validate only the National ID. However, when CBE released the second framework for its simplified KYC in 2016, it housed pioneering programs demanding minimum requirements for limited mobile money accounts as an alternative to the standard bank accounts with full KYC requirements. In both cases, bank personnel or a CBE licensed service provider conducts Customer Due Diligence (CDD) at customer premises and completes the KYC procedures. To perform <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/crack-the-kyc-jigsaw-ease-onboarding-compliance/">KYC</a>, companies must obtain and verify customers' data, including name, address, and date of birth, using government-issued identification cards, passports, utility bills, and mobile bills. Additionally, the customer's credibility is also validated by verifying their job license and sports club membership/subscription (if any). If a person is found to be a Political Exposed Person (PEP), financial institutions must take extra steps to check out that person.<h2 class="heading-node" id="c8l4ipur3">Rise of e-KYC</h2> The government and the Central Bank of Egypt have been proactive and quick to recognize the importance of a digitized KYC system in enabling frictionless financial digitalization. Subsequently, the underpinning was laid in 2019 when the <a class="link" href="https://fintech.cbe.org.eg/home/sandboxCohorts?en">CBE's Regulatory Sandbox</a> rolled out the red carpet for its first cohort in "e-KYC."The regulatory sandbox allows fintechs to trial their new products, services, technologies, and business models. The sandbox approach encourages innovative fintech products and services, reduces time to market, and cuts the cost involved in developing the products and services. It also enables CBE to understand disruptive fintech products and services before deciding to regulate them and collect evidence that can be used to draft practical guidelines and robust regulations. After a successful testing phase, the CBE is ramping up to launch a pilot of the electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) service to enable citizens to access financial services online without the need to walk into a brick-and-mortar bank. Here's a quick overview of how the modern e-KYC compares to the current KYC regime.<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/10/e-KYC-2.0-in-Egypt-blog_4.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="236"><h2 class="heading-node" id="z3b0iamw8">Unlocking the potential of e-KYC</h2> Egypt is a disruption-ready market. Although over 75 million actively use the internet, as of April 2022, about 2/3 rd of the population is underbanked, and a significant portion is still unbanked. Further, in accordance with the Egyptian Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Combating Unit (EMLCU), the CBE issued guidelines to all banks. It entails banks to draft new simplified procedures to open bank accounts for the self-employed and owners of micro-sized projects to encourage greater inclusion. Currently, 32 banks offer internet banking facilities, and 28 have obtained a license to render mobile-based banking services to their customers. In this unique landscape, leveraging e-KYC to streamline onboarding will boost financial reliability, stability, and growth. It will also augment market penetration and improve financial inclusion in the country. With the help of e-KYC, consumers will be able to verify themselves online in minimal steps, including document verification, data extraction, and face verification. They can see their verification status once these steps are completed. This would make the digital onboarding process simpler and secure, thereby helping customers trust financial entities more and making digital transactions easier and more accessible. On the other hand, it would assist FIs in extending services to a larger community of Egyptians living and working in the country and the Egyptian diaspora living abroad. In addition, e-KYC would help to lower risk and dramatically expand credit products like consumer lending as the process would speed up loan approvals. Even though the validation through e-KYC is still nascent, financial experts believe these approvals are likely to be high-value loans for houses and cars.<h2 class="heading-node" id="3qe9qztw4">Benefits of e-KYC</h2> In such a cyberized environment, e-KYC procedures can immensely benefit both financial institutions and customers. Here are some of them: Simple, Instantaneous, Accessible&nbsp;&nbsp;Traditionally, paper-based KYC is a time-consuming process. It can take days or, in some cases, weeks to complete the verification process. On the other hand, e-KYC is a fully automated or digital process that almost eliminates manual intervention. This makes it convenient for individuals and businesses to fill out forms without needing to visit a physical branch or office. Further, as the KYC data is transferred in real-time, it takes just a few minutes to verify and issue when an individual is opting for a banking service or product. Since it can be performed 24/7, 365 days, it increases scalability and makes it more accessible to consumers. Boosts customer acquisition&nbsp;According to a recent report, most Egyptians prefer getting a loan from their friends and family instead of approaching a FI, owing to the extensive time and effort involved in the KYC procedure. E-KYC is one of the optimal solutions to overcome this limitation. The digitized system makes the onboarding process simple and quick and is highly accurate compared to the KYC procedure. As it drastically reduces the waiting time to complete the verification, e-KYC enhances the customer experience from the very first interaction with the bank. Therefore, it serves as a critical factor in attracting new customers and maintaining loyal customer engagement.<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/10/e-KYC-2.0-in-Egypt-blog_1-05.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="236">Mitigates fraud&nbsp;In Egypt, digitalization in the banking sector is in progress. Consequently, banks and non-banking financial companies have to work with the remnants of old legacy systems. However, with steadily growing online transactions, FIs ought to preemptively identify and address systematic digital fraud. The e-KYC system includes technologies such as OCR, facial recognition, liveness detection, and fraud detection to monitor accounts continuously for prohibited transactions or activities. This helps banks detect and eliminate falsified onboarding.&nbsp; Improves operational efficiency&nbsp;By integrating e-KYC, banks can augment profits, enhance regulatory compliance, and transmute customer experience. As it requires zero to minimal manual intervention, it eliminates the need to hire/train agents for KYC procedures. This helps FIs to devote their personnel to other core business functions. Additionally, e-KYC promotes a cloud-based online system to store customer information, thereby replacing the need for paper and document management. Such practice reduces the cost associated with regular KYC compliance. Safe and Secure&nbsp;First off, e-KYC is a consent-based system that enables an individual to share data only upon his or her own accord and consent. Secondly, it entails fewer human beings reviewing sensitive data. Third, the customer's account details, transaction data, and other financial information are secure as it is an online process. This protects the individual's right to privacy and minimizes identity theft, fraud, money laundering, loan scams, etc.<h2 class="heading-node" id="7fd6wjrq0">M2P - a leader in KYC services</h2>M2P's e-KYC suite facilitates businesses to get customer KYC from anywhere in the nation while adhering to all regulatory requirements. It enables financial institutions to control the user data necessary to be captured from the customer, which is collected through the user journeys built into the partner/bank's digital assets. The customer's KYC is performed using the bank's/authorized entity's KYC <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/api-the-power-that-drives-new-age-banking-ecosystems/">APIs</a>, and the outcome of the activity is captured by M2P.&nbsp; Our e-KYC Gateway facilitates seamless customer onboarding for corporates &amp; to better the service delivery by governments. Further, <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/kyc-suite.php">M2P</a> ensures robust integration between the partner's/bank's digital assets and issuing bank's <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/future-of-core-banking-systems/">core banking</a> solution.Our services do not stop with e-KYC. We are incumbents in rendering extensive e-KYB to lending businesses. Our Bank Statement Analyzer is powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning that processes statement data in real-time. The analyzer runs deep analytics to generate accurate reports that help financial institutions and lending businesses make quick credit assessments and decisions. We are launching soon in Egypt. If you are interested in partnering with us, write to us at <a class="link" href="mailto:business@m2pfintech.com">business@m2pfintech.com.</a> <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox.Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

e-KYC 2.0 in Egypt - Enabling the Next Generation Fintech Adoption

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/10/AML-Banner-01-3.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="236"> Money laundering costs the world nearly 5% of its GDP. The losses are estimated to be over $2 trillion per year.&nbsp;&nbsp;For starters, money laundering is not some harmless misdemeanor. It’s a serious financial crime with significant economic and social consequences. As 90% of money laundered is off the radar, criminals and terrorist financiers find it very easy to fund and monetize illegal activities.&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="2opmmtuxc">What is money laundering?</h2>Money laundering is an illegal process that conceals the origin of ill-gotten funds and makes them appear as if they are from a legitimate source.&nbsp;&nbsp;Here’s an example.    &nbsp;A could have gotten paid for organized criminal activities such as drug trafficking, corruption, embezzlement, or gambling. Now, to spend the gains without drawing attention, A uses shell corporations, high-cash businesses, and other naive financial companies to illegally clean the dirty money and let it out in circulation. Now money laundering doesn’t affect just a particular set of businesses. Its dystopian effect surpasses industries and nationalities.&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="c9ru60ga0">How does&nbsp;money laundering&nbsp;happen?</h2>Money launderers&nbsp;traverse&nbsp;three stages to&nbsp;stealthily&nbsp;release&nbsp;illicit funds into the financial ecosystem.&nbsp;<h3 class="heading-node" id="4qgmrotqs">3 stages of money laundering</h3><h4 class="heading-node" id="qbxu15oy4">1 Placement&nbsp;</h4>Here the laundered funds are shifted from criminal associations to be placed and positioned as a legitimate source. Usual techniques to mask the identity include false&nbsp;invoices,&nbsp;moving money to heavy cash flow businesses, foreign bank accounts, and offshore companies.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<h4 class="heading-node" id="atsxwq39d">2 Layering</h4>Otherwise called the ‘structuring phase,’ layering divides a large sum of money into small transactions to cover up money laundering. It blankets the international money movement, making it difficult for law enforcement to track down launderers. Ultimately, the laundered money circulates globally and is exchanged in foreign markets.&nbsp;<h4 class="heading-node" id="wv3wdgeq0">3 Integration</h4>Also called the ‘extraction phase,’ integration is the final stage of money laundering. In this phase, the laundered money returns to the criminals and integrates with the regular financial stream. Masked to be from a legitimate source, criminals can now legally recover their laundered money and use it for any purpose.&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="0oubbqivk">Need&nbsp;to combat money&nbsp;laundering&nbsp;</h2>The impact of money laundering is severe. It decays financial health, income distribution, and tax revenues, in addition to promoting crime and slowing down economic growth. Institutions specializing in money movement, including banks, NBFCs, and other financial institutions, are more likely to be impacted by money laundering. Hence, they need to be highly vigilant.The September 11 attacks, popularly known as the 9/11 terrorist attack, had an intense effect on money laundering regulations, mainly focused on the banking sector. After this, the Patriot Act was introduced, which offered the US government power to fight against terrorism. It also directed the financial institutions to expand their Anti-Money Laundering (AML) programs and intensify due diligence on foreign bank accounts. Title III strengthened banking rules by improving communication between law enforcement and financial institutions. This resulted in the US enforcing a stricter AML regime, followed by other countries. In India, RBI imposes stringent anti-money laundering regulations. Banks must follow strict customer identification processes for account opening and transaction monitoring. Anything suspicious must be reported immediately to the appropriate authority. Strong Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations and compliance are critical in today’s modern landscape, where criminals are getting more sophisticated by the hour. Monitoring, assessing, and reporting vulnerabilities and suspected money laundering is crucial for financial institutions.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="wkbd6qylf">What is Anti-Money Laundering?&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations&nbsp;comprise&nbsp;laws nullifying&nbsp;money laundering or any associated fraudulent activities. It saves banks and other financial institutions from terrorism&nbsp;financing,&nbsp;drug rackets, and&nbsp;other organized crimes.  Comprehensive&nbsp;Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF) regulations enable&nbsp;financial institutions to comply&nbsp;with legal requirements and report suspicious financial activities.&nbsp;Technology innovation&nbsp;in&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/how-is-ai-changing-the-financial-industry-top-6-use-cases-in-fintech-and-banking/">Artificial Intelligence (AI)</a>&nbsp;and Machine Learning (ML)&nbsp;prevents&nbsp;fraudulent activities without hindering&nbsp;customer experience. &nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="3i7d0d4gq">4 Pillars of AML  &nbsp;</h2>For efficient anti-money laundering, businesses need to get the following pillars strong. &nbsp;<h3 class="heading-node" id="epyq8nxhc">Know Your Customer   &nbsp;</h3><a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/crack-the-kyc-jigsaw-ease-onboarding-compliance/">Know Your Customer (KYC)</a>&nbsp;is a critical process for financial institutions. It is a legal requirement for AML laws as it establishes and verifies identity, assesses risk factors, and monitors suspicious activities. &nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/know-your-customer-kyc-the-need-for-authentication/">KYC</a>&nbsp;helps banks and financial institutions understand their customers and their financial dealings to serve them better and manage risks prudently. In India, RBI has enunciated KYC guidelines in the context of recommendations made by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on AML.  FIs need to get KYC information, not just at the time of opening a new account.  They obtain additional data from time to time in accordance with account conduct or at periodic refresh cycles based on risk categorization.<h3 class="heading-node" id="6ykiuco81">Customer Due Diligence   &nbsp;</h3>Customer Due Diligence (CDD) is the control process where all the relevant information of the customers is collected and processed for any potential terrorist financing risks. CDD helps identify risks and provides a risk assessment to new customers&nbsp;(via online databases), politically exposed persons (PEPs), government records, watchlists, and sanctions screening.  CDD is an essential step in KYC that requires ongoing monitoring of money laundering risks posed by each customer. This&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/why-is-risk-based-authentication-rba-critical-for-banks/">risk-based approach</a>&nbsp;will conduct a more profound due diligence process for those with higher non-compliance risks by identifying customers added to sanctions and other AML lists.  Customer due diligence detects money laundering techniques that include layering and structuring. Also known as smurfing, that is breaking up a huge sum of money into smaller transactions to evade reporting limits and avoid perusal. <h3 class="heading-node" id="i2h716qd4">Customer and Transaction Screening   &nbsp;</h3> Banks and other financial institutions are the leading players in the financial landscape with broad customer portfolios. They need to monitor and control the money transfers that&nbsp;take place. As transactions involve several other banks and entities, an average-sized bank mediates thousands of daily&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/tale-of-money-transfers-from-hawala-to-one-click-remittances/">money transfers.</a>&nbsp;So even a minor crime can bring significant consequences and lead to severe administrative collapses, hefty fines, and loss of credibility. Hence screening of all customer deposits and other transactions must be treated seriously.<h3 class="heading-node" id="fabe0ux9m">Suspicious Activity Reporting   &nbsp;</h3> Examining bank records for any unusual behavior or irregularity is a common procedure for law enforcement organizations investigating money laundering. To aid law enforcement in locating perpetrators in the current regulatory framework, thorough records are kept on every single financial transaction. Banks must have an unchangeable audit trail that regulators can rely on. However, it’s also crucial that compliance experts at financial institutions rapidly and effectively examine issues and close them.<h2 class="heading-node" id="gu7wuxkmw">How do you respond to money laundering suspicions?</h2>Simple. Ask the client for more information. Then you can quickly determine if there is any chance of money laundering or not.And remember to tick off this checklist to avoid the risk of money laundering.&nbsp;<h3 class="heading-node" id="jddlhozk9">Tick off the&nbsp;AML checklist&nbsp;</h3>✅&nbsp;Ensure you run a deep check on your new clients. Revisit the purpose of the business partnership and try to understand why they chose your firm. Customer Due Diligence (CDD) helps in identifying the clients and helps assess/reduce the risk posed by them.&nbsp;&nbsp; ✅&nbsp;Keep track of the unusual transactions that take place at the client’s end.&nbsp;&nbsp;✅&nbsp;Unusual sources of funds are another crucial warning that you must consider. Regulation 28 of the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds Regulations 2017 (MLR 2017) helps in analyzing transactions if they are processed with the knowledge of the clients. In some cases, asking for any documentary evidence like bank statements, recently filed business accounts, or any documents that confirm the source of funds will help identify any trace of money laundering.&nbsp;&nbsp; ✅&nbsp;Consider the purpose of funds coming from third parties. It may seem like a regular feature, but it may act as criminal property sometimes. So, it is better to run a check on the funds from third parties and their source.✅&nbsp;If there is any change of instructions without prior warning from the client, ask for a reasonable explanation.✅&nbsp;Money launderers are most likely to misuse trust, company formation, operation of a client account, and so on. To avoid these risks, you must comply with anti-money laundering guidance for the legal sector and apply for appropriate levels of CDD and enhanced due diligence before providing these services.✅&nbsp;Pay attention to cash transactions, strictly follow your company’s cash policy, and don’t accept cash payments above the specified limit. There is always a high risk posed by cash.<h2 class="heading-node" id="4nrz33gno">Challenges in implementing AML  &nbsp;</h2>AML compliance is indispensable. But effective implementation is the key challenge for banks and financial institutions.  Increased governance, lack of skilled resources, requisite tools, technology, and in-depth knowledge are a few bottlenecks that impact AML deployments.Let’s take a brief look at some of the challenges below.Increased governance -&nbsp;These financial institutions and banks face difficulties managing cross-border and multi-jurisdictional AML compliance and customer due diligence requirements. The major challenge they face is identifying beneficial ownership and initiating remedial measures to address the prevailing AML gaps uncovered by regulatory reviews.  Lack of skilled personnel -&nbsp;Fetching professional resources with in-depth knowledge of AML is a tough challenge. Other issues include high onboarding timelines and costs, and attrition. With evolving regulatory requirements, organizations must invest considerable time and effort in keeping pace right.Complicated processes and technology -&nbsp;AML compliance requires banks to put in place a multiplicity of processes and technology solutions that will consolidate KYC data and systems in a single repository. They also need to create infrastructure for cross-channel detection of suspicious activities, improve data quality, and standardize data to enable a centralized analysis of fraud and financial crimes. The risk level assigned during onboarding varies according to the transactions undertaken by the customer. Banks must assess the risks dynamically for each customer and change risk levels accordingly to prevent false positives. This necessitates continual transaction monitoring for each customer, which is a daunting task.<h2 class="heading-node" id="9x7kxfrw4">In conclusion&nbsp;</h2>If you are a business looking to combat money laundering, you must invest in a robust AML platform focusing on the four critical aspects.&nbsp; Research and Technology&nbsp;– With state-of-the-art technologies like artificial intelligence, you can detect false positives and conduct in-depth research to eliminate wrongdoings.&nbsp;Constant Communication&nbsp;– Regular communication should be between the parties involved, including law enforcement, government, regulatory bodies, etc. Communication will keep all parties informed, analyze suspicions, and identify possible networks to tackle money launderers.&nbsp;&nbsp;Leverage Data Analytics&nbsp;– Analytics arms you with data and insights to identify and detect patterns concerning money laundering.&nbsp;&nbsp; System Standardization&nbsp;– Proper standardization helps to communicate and process data that hinder fraud detection.&nbsp;&nbsp; Want to know more about AML deployment?&nbsp;Write to us at <a class="link Hyperlink SCXW36320282 BCX8" href="mailto:business@m2pfintech.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">business@m2pfintech.com</a>.<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox.Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

How to Combat Money Laundering?

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/09/banner_1_1.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="253">Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the latest Digital Lending (DL) guidelines on September 2nd, 2022. This notification confirmed the implementation of the recommendations specified in Annex-1 of the RBI press release**, published a few weeks ago.&nbsp;Before deep diving into these guidelines, let us understand the RBI’s role as a regulator in the Indian economy. &nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="xttnnf4sw">Brief history of RBI</h2>A book by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar sparked the idea of setting up a central banking institution for India. Subsequently, on April 1, 1935, RBI started its operations based on the RBI act of 1934. The act provides the statutory basis for the functioning of the bank. Yet, RBI remained a private institution till it was nationalized in 1949. Since then, RBI has been regulating, moderating, and monitoring the financial aspects of the country’s fiscal and economic position.The primary functions of RBI include the following.<ul class="list-node" id="z3s3llbmp"><li>Monetary Authority – Implementing and monitoring monetary policies</li><li>Currency issuance – Producing, managing, issuing, and exchanging quality currency notes and coins</li><li>Regulator &amp; Financial administrator – License issuance, bank mergers, branch expansion, and liquidity of assets</li><li>Managing foreign exchange – Maintaining Rupee value outside India, managing Indian FOREX reserves, and helping foreign trade payments</li></ul>Other than these, RBI’s role also includes stabilizing India’s financial reserves. They work with players such as financial institutions, regulatory bodies, fintechs, and government agencies to ensure the smooth flow of financial services.&nbsp;To summarize, all private and public banks are monitored by RBI to build trust and safety among their users.&nbsp;In the last eight years, fintechs, online/mobile banking, and other technological advancements have modernized the financial ecosystem worldwide. Digital transformation in financial services is on a rapid growth spurt. And in recent years, digital lending has been a prominent topic in the industry with its share of pros and cons. &nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="ti82051sp">So, what is digital lending?&nbsp;</h2><blockquote class="block-node" id="p26pelwhr">According to RBI reports, Digital Lending (DL) is “A remote and automated lending process, majorly using seamless digital technologies in customer acquisition, credit assessment, loan approval, disbursement, recovery, and associated customer service.”&nbsp;</blockquote>Now that the definition clearly states what constitutes digital lending, let's see who the players are and their roles in the DL realm.&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="dklhgur4h">Key players in the DL arena</h2><ul class="list-node" id="ibj6ivuxn"><li>Borrower- End customer who is the recipient of the loan amount.</li><li>Lenders- Traditional players include Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) and Banks. They can be further divided into:<ul class="list-node" id="vt0pd5crw"><li>Balance sheet lenders- Those who have a record of the loan in their books</li><li>Marketplace lenders- Those who connect borrowers and balance sheet lenders</li></ul></li><li>Lending Service Providers (LSPs)- They are the fintechs that carry out one or more of the lender’s activities like acquiring potential borrowers, disbursement, and collection among several others. LSPs could either be in or out of the regulatory purview of the financial regulator.&nbsp;</li><li>Fringe lenders: They are shadow and unlicensed lenders who do not come under the purview of any registered entity. Monitoring these lenders is difficult as they do not have a proper identity trail.&nbsp;</li></ul>The key players listed above contribute to the remarkable growth of the industry.&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="ir07p6kz3">Steady growth prospects</h2>The pandemic era witnessed phenomenal growth in online transactions. There was a significant rise in digital lending platforms and applications. As a result, applying for and borrowing money from a digital lender got simplified, thus giving rise to thousands of Digital Lending Applications (DLAs).&nbsp;Digital Lending (DL) recorded one of the highest growth in India, from $9bn in 2012 to around $110 bn in 2019. &nbsp;By 2023, the value of the digital lending industry is expected to reach $350 Bn dollars.&nbsp;<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/09/inner-image_1-copy-2.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="253">When we talk about DL, First Loss Default Guarantee (FLDG) is the term we hear quite often. It is one of the many triggers of RBI's DL regulation.Let's get a quick glimpse into what FLDG is.<h2 class="heading-node" id="e7ha4q7hp">What is FLDG?</h2>We'll start with a simple example. In trading communities, family businesses are carried on from one generation to the next. When entrepreneurs emerge in these situations, loans are given to them based on the family's credibility. The reason is that if they do not make a payment, the lender can recover it from the borrower’s family.Likewise, in the case of First Loss Default Guarantee (FLDG), whenever a borrower defaults, a third party (fintech, in this case) comes in to compensate the lender. This mechanism is FLDG.&nbsp;Here's how FLDG works.<ul class="list-node" id="9gs2tjgn2"><li>Typically, fintechs partner with financial institutions by proposing to widen their customer base by targeting a particular customer segment</li><li>They zero in on that niche and turn them into leads using different marketing strategies</li><li>NBFCs agree to take on these loans on their books with a threshold of guaranteed interest</li><li>This guaranteed interest will be backed by the FLDG arrangement between the lender (NBFC) and LSP (fintech)</li></ul>Few NBFCs were renting out their licenses through FLDG. This enabled LSPs to build a proxy portfolio which some industry experts claim to be a risk to the lending system.&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="111xwkfi9">Need for RBI Working Group</h2>While FLDG contributed to the industry's increasing volume, several unregulated entities came into the picture. They exploited customer data and resorted to illicit collection activities. Many borrowers faced serious trouble as they were unaware of the real nature of these entities. An alarming rise in customer complaints resulting from the actions of the unregulated entities placed digital lending on RBI’s radar.&nbsp;To address and streamline the same, RBI set up a Working Group (WG) to understand the risks and set up necessary controls in the DL industry.&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="fcp9tkbk8">What did the Working Group find out?</h2>On January 13, 2021, RBI set up a WG consisting of thirty-six stakeholders. The purpose was to study the DL industry and its activities in detail and to implement the right regulatory approach.The WG surveyed and studied the industry and presented a report (containing two annexures) to RBI on November 18, 2021.&nbsp;The report’s findings were based on the following pillars.<ul class="list-node" id="motjl864k"><li>Discussions with the stakeholders</li><li>Survey and data analysis</li><li>Review of extant regulatory / Supervisory framework and industry practices</li><li>Review of global practices and literature</li></ul>After considering the recommendations, RBI officially announced the implementation of the DL guidelines on September 2, 2022.<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/09/inner-image_1-copy.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" id="f425sz7ha" width="100%" height="253"><h2 class="heading-node" id="6avlwzuzi">&nbsp;DL guidelines implemented</h2><h3 class="heading-node" id="9x0k6ukoy">Annexure – I</h3>The following recommendations were accepted by RBI for immediate implementation.<h3 class="heading-node" id="xwx0cvy12">Customer Protection</h3><ul class="list-node" id="tsdlck58x"><li>Loan disbursals and payments should be between the borrower’s bank account and the lenders without any third-party pool account involved</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="r68myhycc"><li>Regulated Entities (REs) should directly pay the fees and charges to the Lending Service Providers (LSPs) instead of charging the borrower directly</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="29mxi1vhz"><li>Before the execution of the loan contract, the borrower must be given a standard Key Fact Statement (KFS)</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="23dbqwzho"><li>Contents of KFS – Annual Percentage Rate (APR), Recovery method, Grievance addressal, cooling-off/ look-up period&nbsp;</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="avc3zqm4a"><li>Any change in credit limit must require the borrower’s explicit consent</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="ty03qxa1h"><li>Borrowers must be given the option of exiting digital loans during the cooling-off period by paying the principal and the applicable APR without any penalty</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="mciab4cid"><li>All borrower’s complaints should be resolved by a RE and LSPs engaged nodal grievance redressal officer</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="hve36i3x7"><li>The borrower can escalate it to the RBI if the complaint is not resolved within 30 days</li></ul><h3 class="heading-node" id="dd7ts6i9g">Technology and Data</h3><ul class="list-node" id="h4tyt70ye"><li>Data collection should be done with the borrowers' explicit consent with audit trails &nbsp;</li><li>DLAs should collect only specific data of the borrowers pertaining to <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/crack-the-kyc-jigsaw-ease-onboarding-compliance/">Know your Customer (KYC)</a> and onboarding</li><li>Borrowers must be provided with consent to accept, deny, or delete the data collected by the DLAs/LSPs</li></ul><h3 class="heading-node" id="6kpyid9pl">Legal and Regulatory</h3><ul class="list-node" id="27yjfnlrz"><li>Any lending sourced through DLAs (of the RE or the LSP employed by RE) must be disclosed to Credit Information Companies (CICs) by REs</li><li>If REs are using the FLDG model, they shall adhere to the provisions of the <a class="link" href="https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_ViewMasDirections.aspx?id=12165">Master Direction – Reserve Bank of India (Securitisation of Standard Assets) Directions, 2021, dated September 24, 2021</a></li></ul><h2 class="heading-node" id="t9hkboftc">WG recommendations accepted in principle</h2><h3 class="heading-node" id="3r58jerkf">Annexure – II</h3>The following recommendations were accepted in principle but require further examination.&nbsp;<h3 class="heading-node" id="tga9u9bap">Customer Protection</h3><ul class="list-node" id="bwn63txc9"><li>Any time a RE or LSP looks at or asks for credit information from a CIC, the borrower will be notified by email or text message&nbsp;</li></ul><h3 class="heading-node" id="nn4390fg9">Technology and Data</h3><ul class="list-node" id="3xoi0979d"><li>Banks will keep an eye on accounts often used from a different or overseas IP address that doesn't match the account holder's KYC profile&nbsp;</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="nd7vb0o1c"><li>Baseline technology standards to be laid down by RBI primarily include secure application logic and an auditable log for every user action</li><li>REs should ensure that the underwriting algorithms are well-researched and auditable enough to point out discrimination factors&nbsp;</li><li>Artificial Intelligence (AI) used by digital lenders should be ethical and focus on protecting customer interests, security, and privacy</li></ul><h3 class="heading-node" id="28bmw3gy5">Legal and Regulatory Framework</h3><ul class="list-node" id="oktvcvrxo"><li>A Self-Regulatory Organization (SRO) to be set up which will focus on framing a code of conduct for recovery and a model standardized LSP agreement for Balance Sheet Lenders</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="age2sbmui"><li>While the recommendation concerning FLDG is still under examination, REs must ensure financial products involving third-party compensation for defaulters should comply with the Master Direction – Reserve Bank of India (Securitization of Standard Assets) Directions</li></ul><h2 class="heading-node" id="qu1um5gxv">Conclusion</h2>The latest guidelines emphasize the importance of protecting borrowers by curbing the misuse of digital lending apps. The REs are given time until November 30, 2022, to develop systems and processes that are compliant with the ruling.Undoubtedly, fintech-led digital lending will certainly undergo changes. The larger perspective is to protect the customers and the economy from unscrupulous practices and uphold the trust of the banking system.&nbsp;Reference**: <a class="link" href="https://rbidocs.rbi.org.in/rdocs/PublicationReport/Pdfs/DIGITALLENDINGF6A90CA76A9B4B3E84AA0EBD24B307F1.PDF">Annexure 1 of RBI press release</a>Want to know more about digital lending? Write to us at&nbsp;<a class="link au lg" href="mailto:business@m2pfintech.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener ugc nofollow">business@m2pfintech.com</a>.<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox.Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

RBI’s New Digital Lending Guidelines – Will it be a Game Changer?

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/05/Artboard-1-copy-8-8.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="284"> Over the last few years, e-commerce and <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/the-rise-of-digital-payments-2/">digital payments</a> have become a comfortable cosmos for millions of shoppers worldwide. Card-Not-Present (CNP) transactions, in particular, constitute a major chunk of online payments.<h2 class="heading-node" id="cbf4">Card-not-present transactions</h2>Essential to both in-store and online businesses, CNP payments reduce the risk of customer churn and cart abandonment. Imagine a customer does not have a physical credit or has a visibly battered card that cannot be scanned. They can still pay for the purchase using the CNP facility across the counter or telephone or digital channels.But like most things in life, CNP payments are a double-edged sword. They are highly sophisticated yet so vulnerable to security breaches. When a scamster gets hold of the credit card number, name, three-digit security code (CVV), and expiration date, stealing cash and identity becomes a cakewalk.<blockquote class="block-node" id="o40ybrinh">As of 2021, CNP frauds were 81% more common than card-present scams, resulting in tremendous costs to banks and merchants.</blockquote><h2 class="heading-node" id="66f3">Cost of payment fraud</h2> The cost associated with payment fraud is immense for banks, merchants, and payment service providers. They’ll have to deal with customer refunds, additional chargeback fees, fines, and investigation charges. Though the amount is usually refunded to the victim, it still causes distress and mistrust.<h2 class="heading-node" id="b033">Best way to prevent CNP fraud — PCI 3DS</h2> The way to avert CNP fraud is to implement stringent controls that validate the identity of the cardholder. PCI 3D Secure plays a significant role in enabling identity validation and access control, thereby reducing the costs and inefficiencies associated with payment fraud in a CNP scenario. Banks and card payment service providers need to comply with PCI 3DS protocols to fortify transaction security.<h2 class="heading-node" id="deaa">What is PCI 3DS?</h2>PCI 3DS is an advanced EMV messaging procedure that authenticates cardholders when making online purchases. It facilitates seamless data exchange between merchants, cardholders, and card issuers, thereby providing an additional layer of security to avoid CNP fraud and make e-commerce secure.<h2 class="heading-node" id="f06c">Key components of PCI 3DS Core Security Standard</h2>The PCI 3DS Core Security Standard serves as a framework for EMV 3DS functions to execute security controls. It supports the integrity and confidentiality of 3DS transactions and pertains to institutions that leverage 3DSS, DS, and ACS, the key components of the PCI 3DS security standard.Here’s a quick peek into what each component means.•&nbsp;3DS Server (3DSS)&nbsp;contributes the functional interface between the 3DS requester environment and the DS.•&nbsp;3DS Directory Server (DS)&nbsp;holds the list of valid card ranges for which authentication may be available. Further, it also coordinates communication between the 3DSS and the ACS systems to ascertain whether authentication mechanisms are available for a particular card number and device type.•&nbsp;3DS Access Control Server (ACS)&nbsp;comprises the authentication rules and is managed within the issuer domain.The physical and logical security requirements for the PCI 3DS Core Security Standard are structured as follows.Baseline Security Requirements<ul class="list-node" id="qtc61d1ze"><li>These are technical and operational security requirements that reflect general information security principles and practices common to industry standards.</li><li>These requirements should be considered for all types of environments.</li></ul>3DS Security Requirements<ul class="list-node" id="qgbh7rkln"><li>They provide security controls specifically intended to protect 3DS data, technologies, and processes.</li></ul><h2 class="heading-node" id="1289">Difference between PCI 3DS and PCI DSS</h2>The PCI 3DS and PCI DSS are two separate standards intended for varying requirements and entities. The PCI 3DS applies to environments where 3DSS, ACS, and/or DS functions are performed, whereas PCI DSS applies wherever payment card account data is stored, processed, or transmitted.If you want to know more about PCI DSS, check out our blog on the&nbsp;<a class="link au nb" href="https://medium.com/m2p-yap-fintech/12-requirements-of-pci-dss-157747451888" rel="noopener">12 REQUIREMENTS OF PCI DSS.</a>Most 3D secure entities possess both PCI 3DS and PCI DSS responsibilities. In some cases, a 3DS entity does not store, process, or transmit any payment card account data. For instance, in the case of EMV payment tokens, the 3DS entity is involved ONLY in 3DS transactions. The 3DS entity may not be subject to PCI DSS in this scenario. In all other cases, entities should refer to their acquirer and/or the payment brand(s) to determine their compliance obligations to a PCI standard.So, are you looking to get PCI DSS certified and compliant? We can help.<a class="link au nb" href="https://m2pfintech.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ugc nofollow">M2P</a>&nbsp;has extensive experience in ensuring compliance for numerous players in the card payment industry. Write to us at&nbsp;<a class="link au nb" href="mailto:business@m2pfintech.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener ugc nofollow">business@m2pfintech.com</a>, and let’s get started!Here’s to more dynamically authenticated 3DS transactions!<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox. Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

Prevent CNP Frauds with PCI 3DS

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/04/pci-dss.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="253">The payment industry is constantly growing where every upgrade plays an important role in developing trust among users by protecting their sensitive data. So, every business that is an active participator needs to meet few security standards that act as Armour.One such globally recognized standard is PCI DSS.The PCI Security Standards Council came up with a Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) framework to protect credit and debit card transactions and card holders’ data from breaches. It is a mandate for every merchant and service provider to abide by this protocol for a smooth customer experience.<h2 class="heading-node" id="e2ee" style="text-align: justify">How was PCI DSS created?</h2>It all began during the internet boom in the late 1990s, when the initial stage of e-commerce brought in many fraudsters and excitement. When the retailers, merchants, card networks, consumers widely accepted the emerging web-driven transactions, they witnessed a steady increase in credit card fraud and scams. That is when the card networks like American Express, MasterCard, and Visa started to dig deep into the issue to create standards for payment processing systems.With Visa taking the lead in 2001 “Cardholder Information Security Program” standard was introduced, followed by the other companies implementing their security standards. But it did not meet the expectations of the merchants and POS terminals as they need to comply individually with the company-specific standards. This resulted in great difficulty for merchants as they have to comply with different standards when they are approaching multiple card networks. So, the collaboration of the major card networks such as American Express, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, and Visa birthed PCI DSS version 1.0 in December 2004.Later in 2006, the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) was formed by a joint venture of MasterCard, American Express, Visa, JCB International, and Discover Financial Services to manage PCI development and alignment of policies to PCI DSS. PCI SSC ensures that the entities are committed to secure credit card data.PCI DSS is now a globally recognized directive where every merchant who accepts card payments must comply with the latest version, PCI DSS 3.2.1, which was released in May 2018.<h2 class="heading-node" id="edca" style="text-align: justify">Why do merchants need to comply with PCI DSS?</h2>Since there are over multiple card transactions taking place in the market, a safe business environment becomes the prime concern for the merchants to lead a long haul. A business compliant with PCI DSS always earns customers’ trust for their sensitive card information and helps boost the sale and customer confidence. As every business relies on partners, acquirers, or fellow industry mates, being a PCI DSS Compliant helps improve one’s reputation and strategies.Data breaches, payment card data theft, can be avoided as it is stored securely and monitored on a regular basis. In addition, PCI DSS even helps in improving IT infrastructure efficiency with its compliance levels and requirements.<h2 class="heading-node" id="de60" style="text-align: justify">PCI DSS Compliance levels</h2>There are four levels of PCI DSS Compliance based on the number of annual payment card transactions a business handle.Level 1:&nbsp;over 6 million TXNLevel 2:&nbsp;1 to 6 million TXNLevel 3:&nbsp;20,000 to 1 million TXNLevel 4:&nbsp;fewer than 20,000 TXNCheck out our guide to the&nbsp;<a class="link au mj" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/pci-dss-a-quick-guide-to-its-levels/" rel="noopener">PCI DSS Levels</a>&nbsp;and their impact on compliance.<h2 class="heading-node" id="a8f1" style="text-align: justify">Requirements for PCI DSS Compliance</h2>Every system entity and component associated with Cardholder Data Environment (CDE) must comply with the PCI DSS mandate. It includes requirements for security management, policies, procedures, network architecture, software design, and other critical protective measures.PCI DSS sets forth 12 requirements for every PCI DSS complaint established by the PCI Security Standards Council:<h3 class="heading-node" id="757b" style="text-align: justify">1. Firewall Configuration</h3>Firewalls are installed and configured to protect card holders’ data from any malware. It helps the prevention systems effectively to defend the hackers from unauthorized access to private data.<h3 class="heading-node" id="625d" style="text-align: justify">2. Password Security</h3>Businesses should not use vendor-supplied defaults for system passwords and other security parameters in their routers, modems, point of sale (POS) systems, and other third-party products. Instead, basic precautions and configurations like changing the password should be followed as the public can easily access the generic passwords and security measures.<h3 class="heading-node" id="ad5f" style="text-align: justify">3. Protection of Cardholder Data</h3>The stored cardholders’ data must be encrypted with two-fold protection and certain algorithms. Also, the primary account numbers (PAN) must be regularly scanned and monitored to avoid any unencrypted data.<h3 class="heading-node" id="1dad" style="text-align: justify">4. Encryption of Transmitted Data</h3>The cardholders’ data should be encrypted when transmitted across open, public networks like payment processors, home offices from local stores, etc. Sharing the account numbers to unknown locations must be avoided.<h3 class="heading-node" id="9653" style="text-align: justify">5. Antivirus Software</h3>All the systems used for interacting, sharing, storing PAN must be protected against malware by regularly using and updating antivirus software or programs. Also, POS providers must employ anti-virus measures and maintain up-to-date antivirus programs to prevent systems from malware.<h3 class="heading-node" id="f58e" style="text-align: justify">6. Secure Systems and Applications</h3>To add another layer of protection to the data, the providers must develop and maintain secure systems and applications. These systems and applications that are used as the storage of data for interaction must be updated regularly.<h3 class="heading-node" id="f835" style="text-align: justify">7. Restriction of Access</h3>The cardholders’ data are restricted to access by business need-to-know, and the sensitive data must be accurately documented and updated regularly.<h3 class="heading-node" id="bffa" style="text-align: justify">8. Unique Access ID</h3>Individual credentials and ID are assigned to each person with computer access to card holders’ data. Single access ID and password should not be used as it results in more vulnerability and slow response time.<h3 class="heading-node" id="57e9" style="text-align: justify">9. Restriction of Physical Access</h3>Card holders’ data must be physically stored in a secured location where any physical access is restricted. Physically written, typed, or digitally stored data must be secured in the room, and in case of any access, it should be added to the access logs.<h3 class="heading-node" id="7c0d" style="text-align: justify">10. Maintain Access Logs</h3>As mentioned in the previous requirement, all access to network resources and cardholder data must be tracked and monitored in the access logs. This proper record keeping and documentation must be maintained with utmost accuracy as it is related to sensitive data.<h3 class="heading-node" id="aecf" style="text-align: justify">11. Testing Security Systems and Processes</h3>Regularly testing/scanning security systems and processes result in less vulnerability as it involves many digital data, software programs/products, physical locations, etc.<h3 class="heading-node" id="625c" style="text-align: justify">12. Document Policies</h3>Document policies that address information security for all personnel must be maintained right from storing to transmitting/using data after POS.So, with these twelve requirements, PCI DSS comprises six objectives to ensure optimal security for merchants who accept, process, transmit, or store payment card information.<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/06/image-1.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" id="jxi8l3syj" width="100%" height="253">With PCI DSS’s strong objectives and compliance requirements, the security of the payment industry is strengthened. These measures help and encourage data security and facilitate the adoption globally. So, hereby businesses that handle card payments need to be a part of this global payment card data security solution and focus on increasing the intensity to move forward by becoming ‘PCI DSS Complaint.’Look forward to our upcoming blogs as we uncover PCI SSC’s other standards such as PCI 3 DS, PA DSS, PCI PIN Security, and PCI SSF.<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox.Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

PCI DSS: The Payments’ Armour

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/05/banner.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="253">Have you ever noticed the numbers on your credit/debit/prepaid card? They have a string of numbers out of which the first six digits are called Bank Identification Number (BIN). The BIN number helps the merchant processor identify the card type, network, and the issuing bank for the transaction’s approval/decline. For instance, a Visa card starts with the number “4.” Master card starts with the number “5” and “2”, Diners starts with the number “3” and so on.They also enable merchants to accept different types of payments like digital and mobile payments.Now with the explosion of payment electronification and many becoming savvy financially, there has been a drastic increase in the number of card users. This, in turn, has led to a shortage of BINs; if we take a rather dim view, it can be observed as depletion of BINs.To stop this from happening, the International Standards Organization (ISO) amended the existing standard of (ISO/IEC 7812–1) Part 1: Numbering system from Six-digit to Eight-digit BIN in 2017. So, card networks such as MasterCard, Discover, American Express, Visa and others have started prepping for the change.<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/05/Artboard-24-copy.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" id="adfawcve6" width="100%" height="253">Visa has been quite active with this change and regularly issuing updates and ready reference guides for this migration. Visa adopted this standard in 2017 and has urged its partners to migrate to the Eight-digit BIN by the end of April 2022.<h2 class="heading-node" id="69d4" style="text-align: justify">Who will be affected by this migration?</h2><ul class="list-node" id="lbi86ft9q"><li>Acquirers</li><li>Issuers</li><li>Processors</li></ul>MerchantsOn completion of April 2022, the card network’s 100,000 BINs will migrate to 10,000,000 BINs. The first Six-Digits will remain the same in this change, and the following two numbers (00,01,02…) will become part of the Eight-Digit BIN. Also, there will be no need to reissue replacement cards to the customers.Here are the key points that sum up this initiative:<ul class="list-node" id="vxdxnev6w"><li>After April 2022, the existing 6-Digit BINs will continue to function, and requests for new BINs will be assigned in 8-Digits.</li><li>6-Digit BINs will be supported, but they won’t be forced to convert to 8-Digit BINs</li><li>PCI guidance and Visa clearly outline that organizations storing the full 8-digit BINs require additional controls may include expanded scope.</li></ul><h2 class="heading-node" id="f71d" style="text-align: justify">Why the sudden urgency about this migration?</h2>While the standard is out for migrating to Eight-Digit BINs, ISO did say that they are maintaining the other issuing BINs in the six-digit sequence until the deadline of April 2022. The mandate also doesn’t require the removal of Six-Digit BINs. Therefore, the concerned parties must continue supporting both Six and Eight Digit BINs.The time taken for the adoption will significantly vary by the stakeholder. So, even though the deadline is still 10 months away, there is a concern regarding the impact of updating the backend systems. Especially those involved with issuer processing, routing, and other activities need to assess the impact and get ready for the changes.Industry watchers were almost sure that this initiative will call for a longer PAN. Still, Visa has decided to implement the same on the existing 16-digit- PAN structure. It has become quite clear that the decision will affect the PCI compliance of the existing truncation and masking rules. Any organization that stores the full BIN and the last four digits of the card will become non-compliant unless the rules are not modified.The decision did not specify any modification, and it requires organizations to handle 8-digit BIN as cardholder data. But organizations that spent massive efforts over the years to lower their PCI compliance load will face an explosion of responsibilities and remediation efforts. It will probably result in actions, expense, and their own timeline of non-compliance.So, card networks have been encouraging its vendors, agents, partners, and other stakeholders to actively assess the impact they would be experiencing across their systems. This assessment would help them to increase their efficacy and avoid any hurdles when handling transactions.<h2 class="heading-node" id="005c" style="text-align: justify">How does this change impact?</h2>As six-digit BINs are on the decline, it will be challenging to rely on them for authorization, routing, and transaction clearing. The effect might not be immediate but will slowly and surely escalate when Eight-Digit BINs become the norm. Both Merchant and Service providers might face issues in the following scenarios:<ul class="list-node" id="j85h67z8k"><li>Prepaid card’s identity</li><li>Chargeback and Fraud</li><li>Transaction processing</li><li>Merchant services and disputes</li><li>Reporting</li></ul><h2 class="heading-node" id="7198" style="text-align: justify">How to prepare for the change?</h2>Visa has issued directives for both merchants and service providers on how to handle this change. They have explicitly said that the changes are specific and may need to require a timeline extension. So, organizations, service providers, and other stakeholders are encouraged to initiate and pool the resources necessary to prepare for Eight-Digit BINs.<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox.Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

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