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  • Natural Persons

    • FC-1.2.1

      If the customer is a natural person, conventional bank licensees must identify the person’s identity and obtain the following information before providing financial services of any kind:

      (a) Full legal name and any other names used;
      (b) Full permanent address (i.e. the residential address of the customer; a post office box is insufficient);
      (c) Date of birth;
      (d) Nationality;
      (e) Passport number (if the customer is a passport holder);
      (f) Current CPR or Iqama number (for residents of Bahrain or GCC states) or government issued national identification proof;
      (g) Telephone/fax number and email address (where applicable);
      (h) Occupation or public position held (where applicable);
      (i) Employer's name and address (if self-employed, the nature of the self-employment);
      (j) Type of account, and nature and volume of anticipated business dealings with the conventional bank licensee;
      (k) Signature of the customer(s);
      (l) Source of funds;
      (m) Reason for opening the account; and
      (n) Place of birth.
      Amended: January 2024
      Amended: January 2022
      Amended: January 2020
      October 07

    • FC-1.2.1A

      Conventional bank licensees obtaining the information and customer signature electronically using digital applications must comply with the applicable laws governing the onboarding/business relationship including but not limited to the Electronic Transactions Law (Law No. 54 of 2018) for the purposes of obtaining signatures as required in Subparagraph FC-1.2.1 (k) above.

      Added: January 2022

    • FC-1.2.2

      See Part B, Volume 1 (Conventional Banks), for Guidance Notes on source of funds (FC-1.2.1 (1)) and requirements for residents of Bahrain (FC-1.2.1 (c) & (f)).

      October 07

    • FC-1.2.2A

      Conventional retail bank licensees must verify the information in Paragraph FC-1.2.1 (a) to (f) by the following methods; at least one of the copies of the identification documents mentioned in (a) and (b) below must include a clear photograph of the customer:

      (a) Confirmation of the date of birth and legal name, by use of the national E-KYC application and if this is not practical, obtaining a copy of a current valid official original identification document (e.g. birth certificate, passport, national identity card, CPR or Iqama); and
      (b) Confirmation of the permanent residential address by use of the national E-KYC application and if this is not practical, obtaining a copy of a recent utility bill, bank statement or similar statement from another licensee or financial institution, or some form of official correspondence or official documentation card, such as national identity card or CPR, from a public/governmental authority, or a tenancy agreement or record of home visit by an official of the conventional bank licensee.
      Added: January 2022

    • FC-1.2.3

      Conventional wholesale bank licensees must verify the information in Paragraph FC-1.2.1 (a) to (f) by the following methods below; at least one of the copies of the identification documents mentioned in (a) and (b) below must include a clear photograph of the customer:

      (a) Confirmation of the date of birth and legal name, by taking a copy of a current valid official original identification document (e.g. birth certificate, passport, national identity card, CPR or Iqama);
      (b) Confirmation of the permanent residential address by taking a copy of a recent utility bill, bank statement or similar statement from another licensee or financial institution, or some form of official correspondence or official documentation card, such as CPR, from a public/governmental authority, or a tenancy agreement or record of home visit by an official of the conventional bank licensee; and
      (c) Where appropriate, direct contact with the customer by phone, letter or email to confirm relevant information, such as residential address information.
      Amended: January 2022
      October 07

    • FC-1.2.4

      Any document copied or obtained for the purpose of identification verification in a face-to-face customer due diligence process must be an original. An authorised official of the licensee must certify the copy, by writing on it the words 'original sighted', together with the date and his signature. Equivalent measures must be taken for electronic copies.

      Amended: January 2022
      October 07

    • FC-1.2.5

      Identity documents which are not obtained by an authorised official of the licensee in original form (e.g. due to a customer sending a copy by post following an initial meeting) must instead be certified (as per FC-1.2.4) by one of the following from a GCC or FATF member state:

      (a) A lawyer;
      (b) A notary;
      (c) A chartered/certified accountant;
      (d) An official of a government ministry;
      (e) An official of an embassy or consulate; or
      (f) An official of another licensed financial institution or of an associate company of the licensee.
      October 07

    • FC-1.2.6

      The individual making the certification under FC-1.2.5 must give clear contact details (e.g. by attaching a business card or company stamp). The conventional bank licensee must verify the identity of the person providing the certification through checking membership of a professional organisation (for lawyers or accountants), or through checking against databases/websites, or by direct phone or email contact.

      October 07