Broking and Investment platforms are now looking up at new digital KYC (know-your-customer) guidelines from market regulator, Securities, and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), as an opportunity to widen investments all over the country.
But issues like lack of popularity of Digilocker, mobile numbers not updated with the Aadhar database, and deficiency of awareness around video-based verification are some of the issues they are facing while inviting new users for the investment platforms.
Zerodha which is a Bengaluru-based trading firm charge 200 while onboarding to the platform for trading. Nithin Kamath, Chief Executive of Zerodha, stated while drop-offs still happen, the charge ensures only serious investors join the platform. “Those who pay for onboarding will be ready to go through the strict documentation process and complete all formalities,” he mentioned.
The digital KYC process strategized by Sebi has set the Aadhaar-based authentication as the cornerstone of the onboarding process. While some of the insiders from the industry pointed out that these guidelines have helped, drop-offs while onboarding continues. Platforms are taking their measures to ensure it gets minimized.
According to the guidelines released by Sebi at the end of April, companies can use the Income Tax database to cross-check the permanent account number (PAN), verify the bank account by carrying out a single transaction and use DigiLocker for submission of proof of identity documents. If a customer does not use DigiLocker, he or she can scan copies of identity documents accompanied by an electronic signature.
“If a customer does not have Aadhaar seeded with the mobile number, neither can he/she e-Sign nor can they use DigiLocker. This is one major problem that we are seeing during the customer onboarding process,” said Wriju Ray, co-founder of IDfy.
