News / CCTV & Access Control
American digital driver’s licenses validated as identity proofs for banks Published on 28 September 2026 by Christ-loisele (3 min read)
American financial regulators have approved the use of mobile driver’s licenses as verifiable digital identifiers for bank customers. This decision opens a new path for secure identity verification, particularly through Verifiable Digital Credentials (VDCs).
Video: How Verifiable Digital Credentials Work (SpruceID, YouTube) A decision by American regulators
On September 8, 2026, five American financial authorities, the Federal Reserve, the FDIC, the NCUA, the OCC, and FinCEN, issued a joint directive confirming that banks and credit unions may use mobile driver’s licenses (mDLs) issued by states as verifiable digital identity proofs. These mobile licenses, compliant with international standards, are now recognized as a means of documentary verification under the Customer Identification Program (CIP), mandatory for financial institutions.
Banks directly extract structured attributes from VDCs to meet CIP requirements while ensuring traceability and compliance
Illustration: Lawing Tech Verifiable Digital Credentials (VDCs): a revolution for banks
Verifiable Digital Credentials (VDCs), which include mDLs, are secure digital identifiers electronically signed by the issuing state and linked to the user’s device. Their use relies on several security criteria: non-expired validity, presence of a photograph, protection by a PIN code or biometric verification, and absence of revocation. According to the directive from American regulators, these VDCs can be integrated into existing compliance processes without requiring banks to accept them systematically.
This approach reduces reliance on physical documents, such as scanned copies of identity proofs, and minimizes manual data entry errors. Banks directly extract structured attributes (name, date of birth, address, identification number) from VDCs to meet CIP requirements while ensuring traceability and compliance.
IDEMIA leads in mDL certification and deployment
IDEMIA Public Security, a specialist in digital security, made a breakthrough by obtaining the first ISO/IEC 18013-5 certification for its mDL reader, the mID Reader . This international standard ensures interoperability and reliability of mobile driver’s licenses. The company has already deployed its Mobile ID solution in seven American state programs, facilitating the adoption of VDCs by financial institutions.
The verification process relies on several key steps: validating the digital signature of the issuer, verifying the link between the VDC and the terminal used, checking the validity and absence of revocation, and real-time biometric authentication. These measures strengthen trust in the shared digital identity.
What this changes here
For businesses and government agencies in Benin and West Africa, this American advancement could inspire discussions on adopting similar digital identity verification systems. Local banks, facing challenges in compliance and fraud, may turn to VDCs to streamline Know Your Customer (KYC) processes while enhancing security. For example, a Beninese digital driver’s license, aligned with international standards like ISO/IEC 18013-5, could be used to open bank accounts or purchase insurance without relying on physical documents.
Government agencies, such as the Directorate General of Taxes or migration services, could also benefit from this technology to reduce processing times for administrative requests. However, such a transition would require collaboration among financial regulators, technology solution providers, and governments to ensure interoperability and the security of digital identifiers.
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