UK based banks and building societies, supported by UK Finance, have completed initial testing for a new voluntary digital verification service designed to let customers securely share verified personal details through their banking apps. Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide Building Society, NatWest Group and Santander are developing the initiative alongside technology partner Select ID.
The project has now finished proof-of-concept work using synthetic data to assess technical, legal and operational requirements.
A live pilot in a controlled real-world setting is scheduled for the coming months.
The service aims to address the frustration many people face when repeatedly proving their identity online.
Instead of uploading passports, driving licenses or utility bills multiple times, customers could confirm details such as their name, age or address directly via their banking app.
With explicit consent, this verified information could then be shared securely with third parties to complete transactions or access services.
Potential uses include online shopping, age checks on digital platforms, property purchases and opening new accounts.
The entire process would remain voluntary, with customers retaining full control over what information is shared, when it is shared and with whom. Fresh consent would be required for every instance of data sharing.
Jana Mackintosh, Managing Director of Payments and Innovation at UK Finance, said the financial sector is well positioned to deliver trusted digital verification.
She noted that using information already verified by banks and building societies, shared only with explicit customer consent, could make digital transactions safer, faster and more convenient while giving people complete oversight of their data.
Nick Mothershaw, CEO of Select ID, welcomed the opportunity to support the industry effort, highlighting how bank-verified information could improve both security and ease of use for customers and businesses.
The project operates separately from the government’s wider digital identity program but aligns with the UK Digital Verification Services Trust Framework.
It focuses on private-sector commercial and retail applications and is intended to complement, rather than replace, public-sector initiatives.
Key benefits highlighted by the partners include stronger privacy protections, reduced risk of fraud such as scams and synthetic identities, greater convenience for individuals who no longer need to repeatedly submit documents, and improved efficiency for organizations that can verify customers more reliably and at lower cost.
UK Finance has invited expressions of interest from retailers, digital platforms, other participants in the digital verification ecosystem and businesses looking to streamline their online customer verification processes.
Organizations interested in joining future pilot activity or exploring how the service could support their own customer journeys are encouraged to contact the team.
By building on the established trust between banks and their customers, the voluntary digital verification service represents a practical step toward simpler, more secure online interactions across the UK economy. Further updates are expected following the upcoming live pilot.
