Chip Identity Requirement for Those Opening Digital Accounts
Official titleRegulation Amending the Regulation on Payment Services and Electronic Money Issuance and Payment Service Providers
The Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT) has officially added biometric methods and chip identity documents capable of electronic identity verification to the regulation for remote customer acquisition.
Before
Customer identity identification was being carried out through remote communication tools, but biometric and electronic identity verification methods had not been explicitly defined in the legislation.
After
The use of biometric methods and identity documents capable of electronic identity verification in remote customer identity identification processes was officially added to the legislation, thereby gaining a legal basis.
Details of the Regulation
Through the new regulation amendment prepared by the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT), significant updates have been made to the Regulation on Payment Services and Electronic Money Issuance and Payment Service Providers dated 1/12/2021. Under the regulation, new technological standards have been introduced for customer acquisition and identity identification processes carried out through remote communication tools.
With the amendment made, the phrase “with biometric methods or identity documents possessing electronic identity verification capability” has been added to the fourth paragraph of Article 41 of the regulation, which governs remote identity identification. Thanks to this addition, payment institutions and electronic money companies will be legally able to use more secure and technological methods when accepting their customers through digital channels.
The regulation in question aims to accelerate digitalization in the financial technology (fintech) sector, reduce the need for physical signatures or manual verification in customer acquisition processes, and minimize fraud risks such as identity theft in remote account openings.
Questions You Might Have
- After this change, will I be able to open an account more securely without going to a branch?
- Yes, payment and e-money institutions will now be able to open accounts much more securely by electronically verifying your chip identity and scanning your face biometrically, instead of relying solely on a video call.
- When did the regulation enter into force?
- The regulation entered into force directly as of 4 September 2026, the date on which it was published in the Official Gazette.
Key Terms
- Biyometrik Yöntem
- The process of verifying identity by having personal physical and physiological characteristics, such as fingerprints, facial recognition, or the iris of the eye, analyzed by computer systems.
- Elektronik Kimlik Doğrulama
- The digital verification of official documents containing electronic security elements, such as chip identity cards, through compatible devices (NFC, etc.).
Affected Sectors
- Financial technology
- Electronic money institutions
- Payment service providers
- Banking
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REGAS Commentary
For citizens who conduct their financial transactions entirely by telephone or computer without going to a branch, this regulation brings a significant increase in convenience and security. From now on, the highest-level security methods, such as not only video calls but also reading a chip identity onto a phone via NFC or scanning a face using 3D biometrics, are becoming legal standards. This situation will make it nearly impossible for accounts to be opened in your name using false identities.