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SECP Introduces Minimum Criteria to Open Digital Accounts

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has laid down minimum criteria for opening of the digital accounts for Pakistani individual customers by Asset Management companies (AMCs).

The SECP has issued circular 35 of 2020 here on Friday.

According to the SECP’s conditions, the eligible customers for the said digital accounts included Pakistani Individual Customers having: i. an active Account at any Bank/active E-Wallet Mobile Account and an active mobile number in his/her own name.

The minimum customer Information/personal profile/documents required by AMCs revealed that the customer shall access the online portal (website, movie App, or any third-party application) and provide the following minimum information for the purpose of registration:

  • Customers name;
  • Father/spouse name;
  • Date of birth;
  • CNIC/Identification Number with a scanned copy along with the date of issuance and expiry;
  • Existing residential and mailing address;
  • Mobile Number registered in his/ her name.

Provided that the AMCs may in special circumstances use where the Pakistani individual Customer does not have a mobile number in his/her own name, the mobile number of a close family member or the mobile number provided to Pakistani Individual Customers by his/her employer, Or the international mobile number of Pakistan individual Customer having CNIC/ NICOP and an active Account at any Bank/ active E-Wallet Mobile Account subject to the following:

In the case where a mobile number of a close family member is provided, a duly signed written authorization, on prescribed format, from both the Pakistani individual Customers and the person whose mobile number is being provided.

In the case where the mobile number provided by the employer is used, Pakistani Individual Customers shall provide the bill of the service provider in accordance with the procedures and a letter from the employer stating that the said mobile number is provided by the employer to its employee.

In the case where an International mobile number is used, Pakistani Individual Customers shall provide the bill of the service provider in accordance with the procedures.

For the purpose of this Circular, the term” close family member shall mean and include spouse, dependent parents, and dependent children only.

Other required information included email ID; mother’s maiden name; bank/ E-Wallet name and Bank Account IBAN Numbed E-Wallet Mobile Account Number; digital/ online signature card; details of nominee; source of fund/ income; dividend mandate; operating instruction, if any; statement of account request; digital/ online declaration regarding profession and sources of fund/ income along with uploading of valid document(s) as proof thereof; digital/ online undertaking declaring that funds being invested are his/her own funds and that the funds beneficially owned by other persons will not be used and uploading of declaration/ undertaking as a proof thereof; digital/ online consent for account opening and using information/ documents provided digitally/ online for necessary due diligence and verification functions; digital/ online acceptance of Terms 8 Conditions of the account and any other documents required under AML Act, 2010 and Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (Anti Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism) Regulations, 2020 (AMLJCFT Regulations) (customer-specific).

The SECP stated that after submission of the required information and documents, a message shall pop up for the customer on the online portal that his/her request is in process and he/she will receive a One Time Password (OTP) once the basic information is verified.

The AMC will carry out required due diligence including but not limited to verification of the CNIC/National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP)/Pakistan Origin Card (POC) of the customer through NADRA VERISYS,

The CNIC and mobile number pairing (whether it is registered in the name of the customer) through Pakistan Mobile Network Database (“PMD”). Provided further that in all the circumstances mentioned, the AMC shall perform Digital Verification to conduct online face to face interaction on a real-time basis through any virtual meeting application (WhatsApp, skype, etc.) for authentication of the customer and original identification document

The AMC will carry out required due diligence including but not limited to a screening of the prospective customer against applicable sanctions regimes (UNSC, NACTA, etc.); IBAN/ E-Wallet Mobile Account Number verification through 1-link title fetch service or IBAN/ E.Wallet Mobile Account Number and CNIC Pairing or Digital Verification to conduct online face to face interaction on real-time basis through any virtual meeting application (WhatsApp, skype, etc.) for authentication of the customer and original identification document.

Provided that for such Pakistani Individual Customers who do not have mobile number is their own name or provide an international mobile number, WAN/E.Wallet Mobile Account Number verification through 1-link title fetch service or IBAN/ & Wallet Mobile Account Number and CNIC Pairing AND Digital Verification to conduct online face to face interaction on a real-time basis shall be mandatory.

The AMC shall ensure before opening the account that all documents required for screening and risk rating are available and it can conduct screening and risk rating, SECP added.

The customer will not be allowed to proceed in case the information cannot be successfully verified by AMC.

The SECP stated that the AMC will proceed with the opening of the account after the customer has successfully and Activation accessed the portal using the OTP. The account may be opened after due diligence checks and satisfactory completion of the requirements. The opening of a customer account shall be subject to compliance with all other applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

AMCs shall at all times comply with all requirements of the AML Act, 2010 and AML/CFT Regulations, 2020 issued by SECP from time to time.

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