{"id":251820,"date":"2021-04-09T10:42:03","date_gmt":"2021-04-09T08:42:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.testbirds.com\/?p=251820"},"modified":"2022-04-28T12:06:54","modified_gmt":"2022-04-28T12:06:54","slug":"open-banking-building-trust-that-you-can-bank-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.testbirds.com\/en\/blog\/open-banking-building-trust-that-you-can-bank-on\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Banking – Building Trust That You Can Bank On"},"content":{"rendered":"
Trust is essential for open banking to realize its full potential.<\/strong><\/p>\n This is especially important as we quickly move toward an open-data economy where our financial information is increasingly shared<\/strong> between multiple, external parties.<\/p>\n And ultimately, this is the true promise of open banking. A technology-driven solution that enables the sharing of data not only between a bank and its customers but between any number of third-party services, other banks, retailers, and much more.<\/p>\n For the customer (whether retail, corporate, or an individual) this can result in an easier, faster, and more user-friendly experience.<\/strong> They\u2019ll have more choice, more options, and more tailored offerings, which gives them greater control over their financial information.<\/p>\n Banks will be able to provide more services, expand their offerings, even monetize their customers\u2019 data. It can also impact their bottom line. A 2017 Accenture report<\/a> noted that banks that adopt an open banking model could increase revenue by 20 percent<\/strong>, while those that don\u2019t, could lose 30 percent.<\/p>\n For financial service start-ups with immediate access to consumer financial data, they\u2019ll be in a stronger initial position, be better able to innovate and create new revenue models. And for app developers, who use an application programming interface<\/a> (API), the potential is limitless as APIs enable them to collect and utilize data to develop new services without customers having to access their underlying accounts.<\/p>\n For all institutions, simply having access to so much data can be extremely beneficial<\/a>.<\/p>\n As with all disruptive models, open banking has its fair share of challenges and opportunities. But in the end, it all comes down to trust.<\/strong> Can customers trust all involved to keep their financial data secure? And yes, there\u2019s also the generational divide to consider.<\/p>\n With younger customers more open to data sharing, they find open banking is more valuable to them<\/a>. But the level of acceptance in older generations isn\u2019t as strong. And as with online banking, it will take time and effort to have everyone fully accept open banking.<\/p>\n As new, game-changing opportunities are explored and the next important thing is being developed, it\u2019s trust that will lead the way.<\/p>\n So, what exactly is open banking?<\/em><\/p>\n It\u2019s the digital sharing of financial information with third parties via an API (secured according to PSD2 regulations). For banks and other financial institutions, specifically in the EU, this is mandatory. If a customer gives \u2018explicit consent\u2019 for the data to be shared, they must share it. For licensed third-party service providers, this means they can (using the API) develop financial services and applications utilizing the financial data of a bank\u2019s customer.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n To build that trust, security is essential.<\/strong> It\u2019s not surprising that many customers aren\u2019t confident with sharing their account details, payments, and more, with a third-party provider. Even when the benefits include a faster, more convenient experience.<\/p>\n Within the European Union, these concerns prompted a relook at existing regulations. This led to the development of the second Payment Services Directive (PSD2), which impacts the entire European Economic Area \u2013 and its 31 countries\/regions. While the first PSD was largely about instigating uniform payment services across the European Union (to help drive innovation, competition, and increase transparency), the PSD2 (as noted by the European Central Bank<\/a>) \u201csupports innovation and competition in retail payments and enhances the security of payment transactions and the protection of consumer data<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n This protection comes through the use of open (or public) APIs \u2013 and that banks must leverage Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) \u2013 which is basically \u2018two-factor authentication<\/a>\u2019 to prove a customer is who they say they are. Also, based on PSD2 regulations, only licensed third-party providers can build financial apps and services.<\/p>\n Keep in mind! Providers are also regulated<\/strong> and can only provide one of two services: Account Information Service (AIS) and Payment Initiation Service (PIS). Both services handle the customer consent that is required to access open banking data but do so in diverse ways. Becoming a regulated provider is also a tough process. In the United Kingdom, for example, you must undergo a rigorous application process with the Financial Conduct Authority.<\/p>\n\n
A question of security<\/h2>\n
<\/em>These regulations are only for the European Union. Most countries, the United States in particular, are yet to develop such strong nation- or region-wide regulations.<\/em><\/p>\n\n