What is KYC - KYC Full Form?

Know Your Customer (KYC) is a mandatory process that every individual is required to complete when registering with a financial service provider. Financial service providers include banking institutions, mutual fund houses, stockbrokers, depositories, and insurers, among others.  

 

Financial service providers may reject your application or withhold all or a certain set of services if you don’t submit the necessary KYC documents or if you fail the verification process. 

KYC means Know Your Customer. It is sometimes referred to as Know Your Client as well. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced mandatory KYC in 2002 for all existing and new users of financial services following the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. 

 

Know Your Customer is simply a means of customer verification and is carried out to verify the identity of the customer signing up for a service. A KYC check ensures that the individual signing up for services is the same individual using the said services and is usually done only once at the time of account opening. 

 

However, some financial service providers may require you to periodically undergo re-verification from time to time. As part of this verification process, you will be required to submit a set of KYC documents. This includes proof of identity, proof of address, and sometimes even proof of income.

Of late, thanks to the push towards digitisation, many financial service providers have migrated to the far quicker and less time-consuming online KYC verification process. Also known as eKYC, this process doesn’t require you to submit physical copies of your PAN card, Aadhaar card, and other KYC documents. Instead, you can complete the process online from the comfort of your own home via the Aadhaar-OTP method.

KYC is needed to conduct any kind of financial transaction meaning that if you want to open a savings bank account, avail the benefits of a fixed deposit (FD) and third-party wallet, and initiate mutual fund transactions, you would need to complete the KYC process. In fact, as per the guidelines of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), full KYC is now mandatory to open a Demat account or a stock trading account and avail the services of asset management companies and intermediaries.

From the above, you can clearly understand the meaning of KYC. Now, let’s focus on the benefits of KYC:

• Establishes the identity of a customer

• Helps understand the nature of the financial activities of the customer

• Monitors the activities of the customer that help in assessing the risk of money laundering

• Protects lending institutions from losses and frauds that may arise from illegal transactions

• Safeguards participants of various industries, as an individual’s financial portfolio, as well as background information, is provided

• Offers a sense of security to the customer’s sensitive data through its in-depth verification procedure

• Helps streamline the process of maintaining a close eye on any unauthorised activities taking place in the system

• Builds trust between the financial institution and the individual, thereby improving client and supplier relationship

• Simplifies the process of identification by handling personal data cautiously

Having understood the meaning of KYC, you can now dive into the basics of how a KYC process works. 

 

An online KYC process includes three major steps that are listed below:

1. Collection of the Data

In the first step, a customer’s personal data is procured through a KYC form on an online portal that they prefer for their financial transactions.

2. Authentication of the Uploaded Data

The data collected has to be validated through the submission of relevant documents that will serve as substantial evidence to back the uploaded information.

3. Verification of the Data

After you have authenticated the data with the necessary documents, the information provided is examined to ensure that the documents provided are not fraudulent. 

 

The verification can be done in the ways given below: 

• The data provided will be scanned using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to extract necessary information such as address and identity proof. The information thus retrieved will be checked thoroughly for any anomalies. 

• In the absence of the Optical Character Recognition, the data will have to be entered manually on the online portal. The network’s Identity Verification (IDV) solution will check the data using the uploaded documents as a reference. 

 

An offline KYC process is quite similar to the online process mentioned above. The only major difference is that all the application forms and documents provided have to be submitted as physical copies. The offline KYC process takes about a week to achieve completion, meanwhile, the online process takes a comparatively shorter time. 

The KYC verification process can be completed by following any of the three ways mentioned below:

1. Aadhaar OTP-based Online KYC

Aadhaar OTP-based KYC online verification can be done by following the process mentioned below:

• Step 1: Visit the website of a bank, KYC Registration Agency, or fund house.

• Step 2: Create your account by providing personal details.

• Step 3: Enter your Aadhaar number and registered mobile number.

• Step 4: Enter the OTP.

• Step 5: Prepare a self-attested copy of your e-Aadhaar and upload it.

• Step 6: Accept the declaration forms.

2. Aadhaar-based Biometric Authentication

To complete online KYC verification via Aadhaar Biometric Authentication you need to follow the process mentioned below:

• Step 1: Visit the website of a bank, KYC Registration Agency, or fund house.

• Step 2: Follow the steps of Aadhaar OTP-based Online KYC as stated above.

• Step 3: Choose the online biometric authentication option.

• Step 4: An authorised representative will visit the given address to take your biometrics.

• Step 5: Wait for your KYC approval.

3. KYC Verification Offline

KYC verification can be done offline by following the process mentioned below:

• Step 1: Download the KYC form from the website of a bank, KYC Registration Agency, or fund house.

• Step 2: Fill in the form and mention the Aadhaar card and PAN details.

• Step 3: Attach identity proof and address proof along with the application form.

• Step 4: Visit the nearest KYC Registration Agency office. (You might be required to provide your biometrics).

• Step 5: Submit the application form to an executive present there.

• Step 6: Once the KYC application is submitted, you will get an application number. You can use this number to check the status of your KYC verification.

As stated in the introductory paragraph, banks are at constant risk of getting caught up in financial fraud which can result in monetary and reputational penalties. To mitigate the risk of money laundering and other fraudulent activities, banks need to run a background check. To put this into action, banks employ KYC services in order to validate the authenticity of a person/institution.

 

With financial crimes being committed every other day, it is imperative that the banks safeguard themselves against any such acts. Authentication of the customer’s identity plays a crucial role in banking, as the bank must verify whether the customer is who they claim to be. Such customer-onboarding procedures help identify and counter heinous acts like terrorism financing, money laundering, and various other corruptive schemes. 

 

Through the submission of documents and verification of the same, banks can ensure their safety as well as that of every other customer of the bank. If you fail to comply with the KYC procedure, heavy penalties shall be imposed. 

The KYC Verification procedure does not really have standard eligibility criteria. For an offline KYC procedure, you will be required to submit relevant documents. If you opt for an online or eKYC procedure, you must mandatorily submit an Aadhar number. When you offer your consent, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) shares your Aadhar number with the financial organisation. 

Earlier, the KYC procedure was complex and required you to submit hard copies of all the requested documents. However, the recent KYC policies have made the process extremely easy, quick, and hassle-free. eKYC is a paperless and completely digitised process that allows you to complete the KYC process online. Most financial institutions today offer eKYC services.

There are various types of KYC depending on the verification procedure:

1. Aadhaar-based KYC

Aadhaar-based KYC verification can be done online. You can either opt for Aadhaar OTP-based online KYC or Aadhaar-based Biometric KYC. Do note that if you opt for this variant of KYC verification, you can invest only up to ₹50,000 in a mutual fund per year.

2. In-person KYC Verification

As the name suggests, this type of KYC verification is done offline. You can visit a KYC kiosk to complete the in-person verification (IPV). You can also call the KYC Registration Agency and request an executive to come to your home and carry out verification. There is no limit to the amount of money you can invest if you avail the in-person KYC verification service.

3. Centralised KYC 

Under the centralised KYC procedure, you will be required to submit a CKYC form online only once. Additionally, you will have to upload copies of necessary documents as well. On submission, you will receive a unique 14-digit account number. The Central Registry of Securitisation Asset Reconstruction and Security Interest of India (CERSAI) saves the data provided by you in their repository online. 

 

One of the most exciting features of the CKYC is that, once you upload your information, you will not be required to submit your documents every time you wish to carry out a financial transaction. The 14-digit CKYC number will allow companies to access your documents for verification whenever necessary. 

Some of the popular banks that offer KYC services include the State Bank of India (SBI), Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, RBL Bank, etc. You can opt for offline or online KYC services as per your convenience. If you wish to go digital, you can even avail eKYC services offered by these banks.