FIAU Notice to Subject Persons re newly published EBA Guidelines on the use of Remote Customer Onboarding Solutions

6th of December 2022

The EBA has issued guidelines on the application of AML/CFT rules in the context of remote customer onboarding. The Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU) informs subject persons that the EBA published the guidelines following a public consultation between the 10th of December 2021 and the 10th of March 2022. 

A considerable demand for remote onboarding of customers has risen over recent years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the EBA has identified the necessity to implement guidelines to clarify the application of the remote customer onboarding Customer Due Diligence (CDD) processes as generally outlined in Directive (EU) 2015/849 (Fifth AML Directive).

The guidelines are there to fulfil the subject person’s AML/CFT obligations in ensuring consistency and efficient methods in their processes for remote onboarding of customers.

The guidelines establish:

1. The forms of new technologies that are appropriate, adequate, and reliable when financial institutions accept customers remotely whilst respecting the principle of technological neutrality. 

2. The parameters that need to be followed through by financial institutions when adopting new technologies for remote customer onboarding. Such as internal policies and procedures, governance, pre-implementation assessment and ongoing monitoring.

3. The approved remote customer onboarding digital documentation.

4. The circumstances when reliance on third parties and outsourcing can take place. 

The FIAU informs that these Guidelines will enter into force six months after the publication and will be published in all EU official languages. 

Subject persons may access the document by clicking on this link which can be found on both the EBA website and the FIAU website.