Innovative IBAN Name Check

To serve their customers even better, Dutch banks will introduce the IBAN Name Check during 2017. This innovative service checks the beneficiary name entered by a customer when making a transfer through online or mobile banking. The check helps bank customers protect themselves against account-number fraud and prevent incorrect transfers.

Rabobank developed the IBAN Name Check over the past year as part of its own innovation programme. After Rabobank introduces it, other Dutch banks will also make the service available to their customers.

Fraud and incorrect transfers

Dutch banks process many billions of payments quickly and without problems every year. Sometimes things still go wrong due to customer mistakes. In 2016, following reports from the Dutch Consumers’ Association and media programmes such as AVROTROS Opgelicht?!, Dutch banks studied how many incorrect transfers customers reported and what caused them. The study found that around 1,300 incorrect transfers are reported each month. Three-quarters result from outdated account numbers and mistakes when using address books in online and mobile banking. It also found that more than 200 bank customers report an incorrect transfer caused by fraud each month.

In response to the study, the banks agreed on three measures that they have already introduced or will introduce during 2017:

• Banks will stop reissuing IBANs from closed bank accounts.
• Banks will encourage customers to check and clean up their address books in online and mobile banking.
• Banks will introduce the IBAN Name Check for online and mobile banking.

All these measures help bank customers prevent mistakes and fraud when making transfers.

How the IBAN Name Check works

When users enter the beneficiary’s IBAN and name for a transfer in online or mobile banking, the name is checked before the transfer is made. If the check finds discrepancies, the user receives a warning:

• The name entered differs slightly from the name registered for the account number. The registered name is shown to the user for verification.
• The name entered differs significantly from the name registered for the account number. The registered name is not shown and the user is warned about possible mistakes or fraud.

Customers remain responsible for deciding how to act on the warning. Under European rules, the IBAN is decisive when executing a transfer; the name plays no role. If the name entered is correct, the user does not receive a notification.

For the time being, the IBAN Name Check works only with Dutch IBANs. Customers also receive a notification when an IBAN, including a foreign IBAN, cannot be checked.

Smart algorithms and new technology

New technology and smart algorithms now make it possible to check the name associated with an account number without delaying payments or compromising account holders’ privacy. The customer remains in control.

IBAN Name Check activates automatically

Rabobank will introduce the IBAN Name Check in the second quarter of 2017, with other banks to follow. Banks will inform their customers in advance when the check is introduced. Customers do not need to do anything themselves; it will activate automatically in online and mobile banking.

The IBAN Name Check will be announced and explained on AVROTROS Opgelicht?! in the broadcast on Tuesday 7 February from 9.25 pm on NPO 1 (in Dutch).(opens in new window)