Poland's GIIF confirms remote customer verification allowed under conditions

Poland's financial institutions can now remotely verify customer identities using document copies, provided they meet certain conditions, according to the General Inspector of Financial Information (GIIF).

This confirmation comes after a prolonged period of uncertainty and debate between the GIIF, the Personal Data Protection Office (PUODO), and the Ombudsman (RPO). The discussion intensified following substantial fines imposed on a bank and a mobile application company for what PUODO deemed unjustified copying of identity documents. These penalties did not, however, bring clarity to the expected procedures.

The Ombudsman recently raised concerns about the widespread practice of electronic identity document verification. In response, the GIIF issued crucial guidelines for institutions covered by the Anti-Money Laundering Act. These guidelines address remote identification and verification, offering much-needed direction for compliance.