Whitepaper — Navigating Remote Customer Onboarding: Key Insights from EBA Guidance.
A Practical Framework for Compliant, Secure, and Scalable Digital Identity Verification in the EU.
Executive Summary
In October 2023, the European Banking Authority (EBA) introduced a set of formal expectations around how financial institutions across the EU should implement remote customer onboarding. These Remote Customer Onboarding Guidelines aim to standardize how banks and other regulated entities verify identity, manage compliance risks, and adopt technology in the onboarding process. This paper explores the core requirements and outlines a strategic approach for putting them into action.
1. Why These Guidelines Matter
Over the past few years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, the financial sector accelerated its shift toward remote interactions. Yet onboarding practices varied widely across jurisdictions, creating legal uncertainty and inconsistent levels of due diligence. The EBA’s remote onboarding guidelines were developed to bring greater consistency, reliability, and regulatory clarity to this process throughout the EU. These rules apply to all EU-based firms subject to anti-money laundering (AML) legislation, and specifically address the use of digital tools and biometric verification during the initial stages of a client relationship.
4. Compliance Timeline
The Guidelines became applicable on 2 October 2023, and competent authorities across the EU are expected to supervise firms for compliance. There is no transitional period; firms are expected to align existing onboarding procedures promptly.
Final Thoughts
The EBA’s guidance reflects a growing need to balance innovation with responsibility. Remote onboarding will continue to evolve, driven by customer expectations and technology, but institutions must ensure that convenience never comes at the cost of due diligence.
These guidelines offer a structured path to build digital journeys that are both secure and scalable, giving firms the confidence to grow their digital presence while staying within regulatory bounds.
Join Us This October!
If you’re navigating the complexities of remote onboarding, regulatory compliance, or digital identity verification, we invite you to join industry leaders at the 8th Annual Digital Client Onboarding Forum 2025.
Date: 22–23 October 2025
Location: Van der Valk Hotel Schiphol, Amsterdam
This year’s forum will provide expert insights and practical strategies on:
- KYC & AML Best Practices in a remote-first world
- Digital Identity & Trust Frameworks in the EU
- Client Onboarding Technologies, from biometrics to automation
- Balancing Compliance with Customer Experience
- Digital Transformation and future-proofing your onboarding process
- Don’t miss this opportunity to network with your peers, hear directly from regulators and financial leaders, and access tools to build secure, compliant, and efficient onboarding journeys.
For group discounts or tailored packages, contact us at +420 216 216 676.