3 ms·

Do a lot of banks have access to your passport number and use that as identifying info or is there another leg like passport -> ssn -> bank?

by jfaat 8y ago

culturestate 8y ago
If you live (and are opening a bank account) in a country other than your own, your passport is one of the only ways to prove your identity for KYC. I had to show both my HKID and my passport to get an account at HSBC, and I can use either of them as ID at the teller window.
- tacostakohashi 8y ago
  Sure, although in that case it's having a passport in your possession that serves as ID, as distinct from merely knowing the number. I suspect you might find that a different passport with a different number, expiry date, or even nationality but the same name and date of birth would work equally well.
  - culturestate 8y ago
    > I suspect you might find that a different passport with a different number, expiry date, or even nationality but the same name and date of birth would work equally well Nope. All of the information must match, and they even (excruciatingly) compare the signature in my passport to the one they have on file. At another bank where I used only my HKID to open the account, I'm not permitted to use my passport.
    - nicolas_t 8y ago
      Banks and signatures in HK, that's a true love story in itself. I've never seen banks that are so obsessed with signatures and will reject documents because the signature doesn't exactly match the one they have on file... Which means you need to have a photo of any signature you register with a bank there or later on forms you sign will be rejected.
nicolas_t 8y ago
As a foreigner living in South East Asia, in my experience asking for a passport number + date of birth + trivial questions (do you have a mortgage? Do you have a loan?, etc...) is used to prove your identity over the phone. The questions are easily bruteforced through so I'd say it's a real issue. I'm deeply concerned by that leak because of that. And I find it more concerning than BA leaking my financial details without my passport number (which also recently happened and led me to cancel one of my credit card)

Do a lot of banks have access to your passport number and use that as identifying info or is there another leg like passport -> ssn -> bank?

by jfaat 8y ago

Do a lot of banks have access to your passport number and use that as identifying info or is there another leg like passport -> ssn -> bank?

culturestate 8y ago

If you live (and are opening a bank account) in a country other than your own, your passport is one of the only ways to prove your identity for KYC. I had to show both my HKID and my passport to get an account at HSBC, and I can use either of them as ID at the teller window.

tacostakohashi 8y ago
Sure, although in that case it's having a passport in your possession that serves as ID, as distinct from merely knowing the number. I suspect you might find that a different passport with a different number, expiry date, or even nationality but the same name and date of birth would work equally well.
- culturestate 8y ago
  > I suspect you might find that a different passport with a different number, expiry date, or even nationality but the same name and date of birth would work equally well Nope. All of the information must match, and they even (excruciatingly) compare the signature in my passport to the one they have on file. At another bank where I used only my HKID to open the account, I'm not permitted to use my passport.
  - nicolas_t 8y ago
    Banks and signatures in HK, that's a true love story in itself. I've never seen banks that are so obsessed with signatures and will reject documents because the signature doesn't exactly match the one they have on file... Which means you need to have a photo of any signature you register with a bank there or later on forms you sign will be rejected.

nicolas_t 8y ago

As a foreigner living in South East Asia, in my experience asking for a passport number + date of birth + trivial questions (do you have a mortgage? Do you have a loan?, etc...) is used to prove your identity over the phone. The questions are easily bruteforced through so I'd say it's a real issue. I'm deeply concerned by that leak because of that. And I find it more concerning than BA leaking my financial details without my passport number (which also recently happened and led me to cancel one of my credit card)