Airtel Payments Bank and NPCI roll out face authentication for AePS

NPCI’s AePS allows customers to carry out financial and non-financial transactions at any banking point using their Aadhaar number or virtual ID to access their Aadhaar-linked bank account. Until now, transactions were being authenticated using the customer’s Aadhaar number and fingerprint or Iris match in the UIDAI records. The new facility will enable customers to validate the transaction by undertaking face authentication along with the Aadhaar number. The authentication is processed using the Face Authentication RD Application by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).

“We commend UIDAI for introducing face authentication as an additional mode for Aadhaar-based authentication. It’s delightful to see Airtel Payment Bank implementing this feature for AePS transactions, which will enhance the reach of Aadhaar-based transactions across the country,” said Praveena Rai – Chief Operating Officer of NPCI.

“We are delighted to collaborate with NPCI to offer this new facility to our valuable customers. Face authentication is an important addition to our existing bouquet of secure and simple banking solutions to drive financial and digital inclusion in the country,” Ganesh Ananthanarayanan, COO of Airtel Payments Bank said.

Face Authentication for Aadhaar-enabled Payment System 

In the first phase, the facility is made available for non-financial transactions – Balance enquiry and mini-statements – for the Bank’s customers. 

Soon the Bank will make it available for financial transactions. As per the guidance from NPCI, Airtel Payments Bank will enable the functionality for other bank customers and the Bank’s customers at other banking outlets.

Here is how Airtel Payments Bank customers can avail Aadhaar-enabled Payment System

-Banking Correspondent (BC) enters the customer details i.e. Aadhaar number in the business App.

-BC will ask the customer to confirm the type of Authentication – Fingerprint or Face authentication. 

-Post receiving consent from the customer, BC will choose the Face Authentication option and click on Proceed.

-The Face Authentication RD App will open to capture the live Image of the customer.

-Once the face of the customer is captured successfully, BC will be asked to enter his mPIN and complete the transaction.