Why we verify your identity
The lender must identify its customers before doing business with them. Verifying your identity also protects you from someone opening an account in your name.
Identity verification only answers "are you who you say you are?" It does not decide whether you get credit. That is a separate credit review after you apply.
What we collect
- your name, date of birth, gender, contact details and addresses;
- the type and number of your government-issued ID, and photos of its front and back;
- a selfie, used for a liveness check (that you are a real person, present during verification) and a face match (that the selfie matches the ID photo).
Government ID numbers are sensitive personal information under the Data Privacy Act. Face images can be used for identity fraud. We protect both accordingly.
Who processes it
Identity verification is done in the Alwan app by Didit, our identity-verification service provider, acting on the lender's instructions. Didit receives your ID images and selfie and returns the results to us:
- the ID check result;
- the liveness result;
- the face-match result;
- the document type and number it read.
How the result is used
- Verified: your Alwan account opens automatically.
- In review: a person at Didit checks your verification and decides.
- Declined: you can try again in the app. There is no limit on attempts.
Lender staff do not approve or reject identity verification. Your verification result is never turned into credit-score points, and details of your ID or face are never used to assess your application. Didit is a service provider only: it is not the lender and it does not decide on credit.
Your identity is verified again every 12 months.
Your choices
Identity verification is required to use Alwan Credit. If you do not want to complete it, you can still browse the public website, but you cannot apply.
The app asks for camera access only during this step. You can turn it off in your phone settings afterwards.
Storage, access and retention
- Images are stored in private storage. Staff can open them only through links that expire within minutes, and every view is recorded.
- Only staff whose role needs it can see verification records.
- Retention is set out in the Data Retention Policy.
Your rights
You have the rights described in the Privacy Notice: access, correction, objection, erasure where the law allows, and a complaint to the National Privacy Commission. Contact our Data Protection Officer through Support in the Alwan app.