Electronic signature for banks and fintechs

A particularly regulated sector

Banks and fintechs handle documents subject to the strictest traceability and identification requirements on the market: account opening, credit, SEPA mandate, various authorisations. Electronic signature has become a standard here, with specific KYC requirements.

Commonly signed documents

• Account opening (account agreement, Terms and Conditions)

• Credit offer (property, consumer, business)

• SEPA mandate (direct debit)

• Savings contracts (savings accounts, PEL, CEL)

• Online operations (transfer, RIB change, account closure)

• Banking powers of attorney

• Professional agreements (finance lease, factoring)

Recommended level

• Account opening: AES minimum, often complemented by video KYC

• Property credit: AES mandatory, QES for certain notarial formalities

• SEPA mandate: SES may suffice, AES recommended

ACPR and AML/CFT compliance

Banks are subject to AML/CFT regulations (anti-money laundering) which impose enhanced KYC:

• identity document verification

• liveness test

• cross-checking against sanctions lists (PEP, EU, OFAC)

• retention of documents for 10 years

Electronic signature must integrate with the KYC journey without degrading customer experience.

Benefits

• 100% online account opening in 10 minutes

• Credit approved quickly: offer signed within 24 hours instead of 2 weeks

• Reduced operational costs: no registered mail, no physical filing

• Audit compliance: complete exportable traceability

Common mistakes

• Neglecting the liveness test in KYC

• Failing to archive identity documents in compliance with GDPR

• Using a non-EU platform for sensitive data

• Losing traceability when changing service providers

Real-world example: neo-bank

A neo-bank opens 500 accounts per day. 100% digital journey:

• Entry of personal information

• Upload identity document + proof of address

• Liveness test (dynamic selfie)

• Cross-checking against sanctions lists

• Signature of account agreement + SEPA mandate in AES

• Card sent within 48 hours

Average subscription time: 8 minutes. Abandonment rate: <15%.

How Certyneo helps you

Certyneo offers a solution for banks and fintechs: AES by default, complete video KYC integration (identity document OCR, liveness, sanctions), ACPR and AML/CFT compliance, 100% EU hosting with no Cloud Act dependency, 10-year archiving, webhooks for IT system integration.

FAQ

Can a credit offer signature be in SES?

No, AES minimum. Consumer law requires strong identification.

Does the withdrawal period apply?

Yes, 14 days for consumer credit, 10 days for property credit (from receipt of the offer).

Can minors open an account electronically?

With co-signature from their legal representative.

Retention period?

10 years for banking documents, 30 years for certain deeds.

Does signature protect against fraud?

It significantly reduces risks through strong authentication, without eliminating them. Vigilance against fraud (phishing, deepfake KYC) remains necessary.

Conclusion

Electronic signature is a pillar of digital banking: rapid subscription, smooth KYC, native ACPR compliance. Banks that master it dominate customer acquisition.

Try Certyneo to send, sign and track your documents online simply, quickly and securely.