#WednesdayInsight: CKYC: The Game-Changer for Modern Finance

Introduction

The importance of CKYC (Central Know Your Customer) in financial institutions cannot be overstated. For any financial institution or business, adhering to regulations and protecting customer interests is paramount. CKYC Registry Fillings, being one of the most significant regulations, is essential to understand. As of March 2023, the CKYC registry boasts more than 70 crore records. Moreover, the CKYC system is more reliable and stable compared to other systems like the Aadhar UIDAI server.

However, many financial institutions and lending businesses are still grappling with the concept of CKYC. Some are not even aware of its existence, highlighting the need for more awareness and understanding of this critical regulation. We have recognized this gap and decided to shed light on the importance of CKYC in financial institutions. We aim to discuss the basic roots of CKYC, its functionalities, and how financial institutions can ensure their systems are automated, seamless, and compliant.

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What is CKYC and why is it important?

CKYC, or Central Know Your Customer, serves as a centralized repository for KYC data. Before its implementation, customers had to submit separate KYC documents to each financial institution they interacted with. This often led to inconsistencies and outdated information. With Central Know Your Customer initiative, once a customer’s KYC data is submitted to any financial institution, it’s pushed to the CKYC registry. Other institutions, with the customer’s consent, can then pull this data, ensuring they always have the most up-to-date information.

A CKYC software solution sits in the middle of this process, facilitating the request and response of this data through APIs. This centralization has several benefits:

• Alternate to Aadhar: Many financial institutions now use CKYC process as an alternative to Aadhar for KYC verification. This is especially useful when the Aadhar mobile number isn’t mapped or when the Aadhar server is down.
• Multiple Valid Documents: CKYC system accepts various valid documents, including Aadhar, PAN, driving license, and voter ID. Once a customer’s data is in the CKYC registry, institutions can retrieve the information using any of these IDs.
• Ease of Use: CKYC server provides a more stable and user-friendly experience compared to other systems.
• Inter-usability of KYC records across financial institutions.
• Reduce the burden of constantly producing and verifying KYC for a new financial institution.

Functionalities of CKYC

Search

This function allows institutions to search for a customer’s CKYC number using various identification numbers, such as PAN. By inputting the PAN number, institutions can retrieve the CKYC number along with some personal details like name, father’s name, and mother’s name.

Download

Once the CKYC number is obtained, institutions can use the download function to retrieve all the information submitted by the customer during their CKYC registration.

Upload

There are two main functionalities under upload:

• New User Creation: Institutions can create a new CKYC record by filling in various sections like personal details, address, related person details, and other relevant information.
• Update Existing User: If a record was created by the same institution, it can be updated directly. Otherwise, the record must first be downloaded before any updates can be made.

CKYC Pricing

One of the standout features of CKYC, especially when compared to similar systems in other countries, is its cost-effectiveness. For instance:

• Search: This feature is available at no cost.
• Upload, Download, and Update: The cost for these operations is approx. one rupee each respectively. This nominal fee for CKYC functionalities makes them an attractive option for financial institutions looking to streamline their KYC processes without incurring high costs.

CKYC API – Search

Here’s how the CKYC API for search works:

1. Integration with Loan Origination Process: When a borrower applies for a loan, they can be onboarded through various methods, such as self-onboarding, loan officers, or DSAs. As part of the loan origination process, the borrower provides basic details, including their PAN and date of birth.
2. Instant Data Retrieval: Upon entering the PAN and date of birth and obtaining the borrower’s consent, the financial institution can instantly pull the borrower’s CKYC data. This is facilitated by the CKYC search API, which retrieves the CKYC ID (a 14-digit number), address, date of birth, and other relevant details.
3. Automation through API: The CKYC search API can be integrated into the financial institution’s system, allowing for real-time data retrieval. For instance, if a borrower’s Aadhar OTP verification fails, the CKYC details can serve as an alternative verification method.
4. Using Postman for API Testing: For technology teams, the CKYC API can be tested using tools like Postman. By inputting the PAN number and sending a request, the API communicates with the CKYC portal, retrieves the relevant data, and displays it in Postman. The primary output of the search API is the 14-digit CKYC number, name, and age of the borrower.
5. Efficiency and Speed: The automation provided by the CKYC API ensures that financial institutions can quickly verify and onboard borrowers, enhancing the efficiency of the loan origination process.

CKYC API – Download

Here’s a breakdown of how the CKYC API for download operates:

1. Data Retrieval: After obtaining the CKYC number through the search API, the download API can be invoked. By providing the CKYC number as input, financial institutions can instantly pull detailed information about the customer. This includes approximately 50 to 60 parameters, offering a comprehensive view of the customer’s data.
2. Integration with Loan Origination Systems: The CKYC download API can be seamlessly integrated into loan origination systems. This ensures that when a borrower applies for a loan, their CKYC details can be instantly retrieved, streamlining the loan approval process.
3. Automation through API: The CKYC download API can be tested and integrated using tools like Postman. By providing the CKYC number, the API fetches the detailed data, which includes a text file with all the customer’s details in a specific format (separated by pipe symbols). Additionally, the ZIP file generated contains identification documents provided by the customer, such as passport, Aadhar, and profile details.
4. Efficiency: The automation provided by the CKYC download API ensures that financial institutions can quickly access detailed customer data without manual interventions. This not only speeds up the loan origination process but also ensures data accuracy.

CKYC API – Upload

Here’s a detailed overview of how the CKYC API for upload operates:

1. Integration with Loan Origination Systems: The CKYC upload API can be integrated into loan origination systems, allowing institutions to automatically submit customer details to the CKYC registry.
2. Automated File Generation: The API generates a ZIP file containing all the necessary customer details in the required format. This ZIP file includes a text file with customer details separated by pipe symbols and any identification documents provided by the customer, such as a passport and Aadhar.
3. SFTP Workflow: Once the ZIP file is generated, it can be automatically uploaded to the CKYC registry either manually or via Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP). The CKYC system will then process the file, and a response file will be generated, indicating the completion of the upload process.
4. Efficiency and Automation: The CKYC upload API eliminates the need for manual file creation and submission, ensuring that customer data is accurately and efficiently uploaded to the CKYC registry.

CKYC API – Update

Here’s how it operates:

1. Identification of Existing Records: Before making any updates, it’s essential to identify the existing record. This is typically done using the CKYC number obtained from the search API.
2. Data Modification: Once the record is identified, the CKYC update API allows institutions to modify specific details of the customer. This could include changes in address, contact details, or any other relevant information.
3. Validation Process: To ensure data integrity, any updates made to a customer’s record go through a validation process. This involves a maker-checker mechanism where one user (the maker) initiates the update, and another user (the checker) reviews and approves the changes.
4. Response Handling: After submitting the update request, the CKYC system processes the changes. A response is generated, indicating the status of the update. If there are any discrepancies or issues, the system will flag them, allowing institutions to rectify any errors.

SFTP Response Workflow

The SFTP response flow outlines the sequence of events that occur after data is uploaded via SFTP:

• Data Submission: Once the data is prepared and validated, it’s uploaded to the CKYC registry via SFTP.
• Data Processing: The CKYC system processes the uploaded data, checking for accuracy and ensuring that it meets the required standards.
• Response Generation: Once the data is processed, the system will produce responses in three stages:

a) Initially, after the SFTP upload is done, an immediate response named ‘response_0‘ will be generated in the ‘SFTP response’ folder. This is primarily to confirm the correctness of the data format.

b) During the Checker phase, this initial response is also used for authority purposes. Upon its acceptance, another response, ‘response_1’, is generated.?

c) Within ‘response_1′, an 11-digit reference number is provided, which allows you to monitor the upload’s progress. The conclusive feedback, which will denote either acceptance or rejection, will be generated in 24 hours.

• Error Handling: If there are any discrepancies or errors in the uploaded data, the CKYC system will flag them. Institutions can then review the feedback, rectify any errors, and re-upload the corrected data.
• Final Verification: Once all errors are addressed and the data is re-uploaded, it undergoes a final verification process. Upon successful verification, the data is added to the CKYC registry.

Originally Published at CloudBankin .