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Know Your Customer (KYC)

What is Know Your Customer (KYC) ?

Know Your Customer (KYC) is a term that may refer to a financial institution's customer due diligence process to verify the identity of its customers. This process is conducted to ensure that the customer is who they say they are, and to protect the financial institution from fraudulent activities or money laundering. The KYC process helps financial institutions meet their legal and regulatory obligations, and also helps them build long-term relationships with their customers.


Know Your Customer (KYC) in More Detail

The KYC process typically involves the customer providing the financial institution with identity documents, such as a passport or driver’s license, as well as other relevant documents, such as evidence of address, proof of income, and more. The financial institution then verifies the customer’s identity by cross-referencing the documents with other records, such as public databases or credit bureaus. The financial institution may also conduct background checks, such as confirming the customer’s employment history, to ensure the customer is trustworthy.

Once the customer is verified, the financial institution may also request additional information and documents to help them assess the customer’s risk profile. This helps them determine the customer’s creditworthiness, and enables them to decide whether to grant the customer access to financial services and products.

The KYC process is essential for financial institutions to comply with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations and protect themselves from financial crime. It is also an important part of maintaining a customer’s trust and loyalty. By verifying customers, financial institutions can build strong relationships with their customers and provide them with the services they need.