Electronic signature regulations were approved by the Central Bank
According to the Central Bank, Hamidreza Ghaniabadi, referring to the readiness to implement the mentioned steps in the financial inclusion plan, including the approval of opening an absentee account in the Supreme Council for Combating Money Laundering, said: And will be realized from next year, God willing.
He explained the future plans of the Central Bank regarding financial inclusion and said: “Financial inclusion in the theoretical literature of the subject means easy, fast and cost-effective access to banking services for all members of society and therefore is one of the indicators of financial development in any country.” . In other words, this concept means the extent of financial services in all parts of a country.
Ghaniabadi continued: “Studies and researches also indicate that the more inclusiveness and comprehensiveness of financial services, the more it leads to economic growth and financial development of that country.” For this reason, one of the goals and objectives of policymakers, and especially monetary policymakers, is to discuss the development of financial inclusion, and of course, fortunately, we have good conditions in this regard.
The official of the Central Bank, while enumerating the indicators of financial inclusion, clarified: for example, the expansion of branches in the country, ATMs, store terminals for shopping, etc. are the indicators that evaluate the financial inclusion in a country. The possibility of opening an account is also one of the most important indicators in assessing financial inclusion, which in this regard is now the coverage of bank accounts over 15 and 18 years and in general in adults at an acceptable level.
Ghaniabadi, stating that the main issue of improving this level in the banking network, especially in providing credit, bank cards and facilities, said: the use of technological tools according to which a person can benefit from banking services in absentia requires prerequisites.
He added: “One of these prerequisites is electronic authentication, which means that the bank must ensure that the recipient of financial services is the person who is actually authenticated.” There were a number of obstacles and challenges in this regard, as the country’s national payment infrastructure should not be abused. On this basis, and before, the provision of absentee services was prohibited and subject to the approval of the instructions of the Supreme Council for Combating Money Laundering, which fortunately was approved yesterday.
The Director General of Regulations, Banking Licenses and Anti-Money Laundering, stating that the approval of this instruction has provided the ground for individuals in the community to use offline banking services, stressed: The necessary infrastructure in this field has been provided by the banks, and many banks have provided the preparations and infrastructure in this field, and we hope that the banks will make this operational from the beginning of next year.
Ghaniabadi called the implementation of this plan an important step in financial inclusion and said: with the implementation of this plan, geography and location restrictions for bank customers will be removed.
Referring to some criticisms and complaints of customers in some parts of the country regarding access to banking services in the field of receiving, paying and facilities, the bank official said: ” They will be removed and eliminated for all compatriots.
Convergence and procedural unity between banks is increasing
Director General of Regulations, Banking Licenses and Anti-Money Laundering of the Central Bank, emphasizing that the regulations are the same for all banks; He said: “Perhaps the lack of unity of procedure that currently exists in the banking network in some cases, is due to the fact that the preparation and infrastructure of the necessary regulations for the use of in-person services had not been communicated to banks before, and therefore this is at the banking network level.” Was not institutionalized. Based on this, and with the preparation that has been considered since yesterday, we will definitely move towards the convergence of banks in terms of using banking services. Of course, this authentication has different methods and usually biometric tools, film, digital signature or gestures by the customer are used, which indicates that the bank has followed the identification protocols.
Ghaniabadi expressed his hope that by communicating the legal requirements and regulatory infrastructure to the banking network, this procedural difference in the banking network will be reduced and we will move towards convergence and unity of procedure between banks.
The official of the Central Bank considered one of the plans of this bank to facilitate the receipt of micro-credits and emphasized: this has been officially announced and we in the Central Bank are seeking to make the receipt of bank credits easier for the public. In this regard, despite the fact that we have a good balance in terms of branch, account opening, receipt and payment, but studies and surveys confirm that there is no satisfaction in the use of microcredit and we are far from the desired situation. Therefore, in the new term of the Central Bank, good things are going to happen in this regard, and now plans are being made in this regard.
“As recently announced, this has been achieved with the cooperation of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance, the Central Bank and the Judiciary,” he said, referring to the issue of the electronic bill of exchange. Therefore, it is possible to use the promissory note electronically, around the clock and without face-to-face reference. In such cases, one of the things that has been achieved to facilitate the use of microcredit is the possibility of using electronic promissory notes, which can be used as a tool to guarantee the facility. Of course, this is currently being done by the three banks on a trial basis and has not yet been fully implemented and comprehensive, and we hope that it will most likely be operational by early next year.
He considered the provision of such services as a competitive advantage of banks and specified: “Any bank that can have a better position in providing the services mentioned earlier, will be more successful in that bank.” In other words, banks focus their competitive advantage on such services, ie ease of use of banking services or use of services in less time.
Electronic signature regulations were approved by the Central Bank Board of Directors
He reminded: “We are also providing the necessary bases for electronic signatures.” The regulations related to electronic signatures have also been approved by the Central Bank Board of Directors and will be implemented from next year, God willing.
Regarding the issue of accreditation in order to receive facilities, Ghaniabadi also said: “In the field of guarantees and guarantees received from the customer in the Central Bank, we are looking to move towards accreditation.” Based on this, accreditation is supposed to be the basis of credits and especially micro credits, and based on that, the necessary collateral and guarantee are determined. In such cases, the higher the customer’s credit, the less collateral and guarantees will be received from him. Of course, validation is also based on the customer’s credit history. In fact, every person has a financial record and history, and consequently every person has a lower default and better accounting will be in a better position in providing guarantees for receiving financial services, including facilities, and by the end of the year, based on promises made, arrangements and The provisions of this instruction are provided.
He stated that the issue of blocking part of the facility amount has been prohibited in the past, adding that if the bank customer has encountered such cases, it is definitely possible to file a lawsuit.
Explaining the cash collateral, Ghaniabadi noted that the bank uses various collateral to guarantee the facility, which may receive part of the guarantee as cash collateral. However, there is a legal prohibition and instructions regarding blocking part of the facilities. Blocking part of the facility is jurisprudential, legal and regulatory objection, because it increases the effective interest rate of the facility and is considered a violation of the law.
In the end, he added: “As the Governor of the Central Bank emphasized yesterday, such a violation will be investigated by the Board of Investigations of Banks.”