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 (mortgage, consumer, business)

• SEPA mandate (direct debit)

• Savings contracts (savings accounts, PEL, CEL)

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

• Banking powers of attorney

• Professional agreements (finance lease, factoring)

Recommended Level

• Account opening: AES minimum, often video KYC in addition

• Mortgage 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 databases (PEP, EU, OFAC)

• document retention for 10 years

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

Benefits

• Account opening 100% online in 10 minutes

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

• Reduction of operational costs: no registered mail, no physical filing

• Audit compliance: complete traceable logs exportable

Common Mistakes

• Neglecting the liveness test in KYC

• Failing to archive identity documents in compliance with GDPR

• Using a platform outside the EU for sensitive data

• Losing traceability in case of provider change

Concrete Example: Neobank

A neobank opens 500 accounts per day. 100% digital journey:

• Personal information entry

• Identity document upload + proof of address

• Liveness test (dynamic selfie)

• Cross-checking with sanctions databases

• Signing 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 without Cloud Act dependency, 10-year archiving, webhooks for IT system integration.

FAQ

Can a credit offer signature be SES?

No, AES minimum. The Consumer Code requires strong identification.

Does the withdrawal period apply?

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

Can minors open an account electronically?

With co-signature from the 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, KYC deepfakes) remains necessary.

Conclusion

Electronic signature is a cornerstone of digital banking: quick 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.