On July 2, a large number of customers flocked to banks in Ho Chi Minh City to complete the mandatory biometric authentication process for transactions over VND 10 million. At a bank in District 3, people crowded the premises, holding their identification cards and smartphones, waiting to register for facial recognition.
Bank staff guiding customers through biometric authentication. Source: U.P
Ms. Kim Dung, a resident of Binh Tan District, shared that she had attempted to register on the bank’s app numerous times since the previous day but to no avail. “I followed the instructions to remove my ID card from its plastic case and take off my phone case, but the system still didn’t accept it,” she said. Assuming that the issue was due to high traffic during the day, she tried again in the middle of the night, only to encounter an error when trying to submit her facial data. “I came to the bank today, and the staff told me that even their app was experiencing congestion. I’ve been waiting here all morning but still haven’t been able to complete the biometric authentication,” Ms. Dung added.
Meanwhile, Ms. Thu Ha, a resident of Nha Be District, encountered a frustrating situation as the Agribank app could not recognize her face due to differences from her appearance on the chip-enabled ID card.
According to Ms. Ha, she had made the chip-enabled ID card the previous year when she had long, black hair with a center part. However, as she is currently pregnant, her face has become rounder. Additionally, she cut her hair short for convenience as her due date approaches. “The changes in my appearance might be why the app couldn’t identify me as the person on the ID card. I need to complete the biometric authentication as soon as possible because I’m close to my due date and need to make frequent transactions. So, I had to take the morning off work to come to the bank for assistance. But the bank’s app keeps showing errors, and I still haven’t been able to resolve the issue,” Ms. Ha explained.
Many customers also shared that the process was time-consuming, especially for those with accounts at multiple banks. “Interestingly, some bank apps accepted my face even with changes in my hairstyle and hair color from the photo on my chip-enabled ID card, while others didn’t, which is quite frustrating. Moreover, yesterday, when I transferred VND 10 million, the app didn’t ask for facial recognition, but today, when I tried to transfer only VND 2 million, it required authentication. When I inquired with the bank staff, they said the app might be experiencing technical issues,” said Ms. Minh Nhi, a resident of District 6, who expressed her confusion about the inconsistent requirements for biometric authentication during transactions.
VMG eID-VMG Bio-2345: The Next-Gen Solution for Bank Account Protection
Despite constant warnings from banks, regulators, and the media, many people still fall prey to sophisticated online scams and lose their hard-earned money. This problem is becoming increasingly prevalent, and it is crucial to find effective solutions to protect citizens in the digital age.
Effective Banking Practices to Safeguard Customers from Financial Losses
Amid sophisticated scams by cybercriminals, banks are rolling out new security measures.
Enhancing Risk Mitigation Solutions in Online Payments
Aiming to enhance security in online and card payments, commercial banks are actively deploying a range of technological solutions to comply with the requirements set forth in Decision 2345/QD-NHNH by the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV).
