New digital identity services partnership with Yoti
Post Office is expanding its presence in the identity services market with the rollout of a suite of in-branch and online products in a new partnership with digital identity company, Yoti. Postmasters registered on the One website will have received a communication from Elinor Hull, Identity Services Director, and Owen Woodley, our Group Chief Commercial Officer, with further information.
The rollout includes a free-to use app that will combine customers’ personal data and biometrics to create a secure, reusable ID on their phone, and in-branch services for customers who do not have access to a smartphone, or prefer face-to-face contact when asked to confirm their identity.
The partnership will also connect Post Office customers with online businesses, by enabling companies to use Post Office and Yoti identity verification services for fraud detection, E-signatures and customer authentication services, using secure biometric face matching and liveness detection.
Nick Read, Post Office Chief Executive, said: “Post Office is embracing new technologies and this partnership will enhance our reputation as the trusted go-to destination for identity solutions. Whether it’s proving your identity on a smartphone or face-to-face with a Postmaster, we will make transactions faster and simpler than ever before.”
The partnership combines Post Office’s existing experience in identity services and extensive branch network, with Yoti’s leading technology, to help drive the UK’s digital transformation. Embracing new technology and further expanding into the identity services market will help Post Office adapt and remain relevant, whilst ensuring we continue to offer customers choice in how they transact.
Elinor Hull, Post Office Identity Services Director, said: “Access to products and services is increasingly moving online, whether it’s opening a bank account, applying for a job, accessing medical services or buying goods. We’re responding to this shift with a free-to-use app that will allow customers to build their own secure digital identity on their smartphone, enabling them to easily control and prove who they are to whichever business they want to interact with.
“For businesses, we are providing a suite of transactional and reusable identity verification services that will enable them to serve their customers with ease, trust and at low cost.”
Customer products and services in-branch
Post Office is the market leader for enabling people to verify their identity online and access Gov.UK Verify Services such as tax self-assessment, Universal Credit and basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. Almost four million UK citizens hold a Post Office Gov.UK Verify account.
Post Office also provides a number of identity transactions such as passport and driving licence renewals, as well as DBS and documentation certification checks, in branch. In 2020, despite Covid-19 related lockdown restrictions, thanks to our Postmasters and branches, seven million identity-related transactions were carried out at Post Offices.
We will be launching a 750-branch pilot for new in-branch services in July, enabling customers to transact simply, safely and securely both online and in person.
Branches currently participating in the digital passport application service trial, who have the necessary infrastructure in place, will take part in the pilot. We are currently working closely with Yoti to develop these services and our goal is to extend these across our core identity branch network in the future. There are no changes to current in-branch identity services.
If you have any questions, please submit them here and we will respond over the next few days through the One website.