Title
Customer Identification for Banks
Law
Bsp Memorandum No. M-2014-043
Decision Date
Nov 7, 2014
BSP Memorandum Order No. M-2014-043 outlines the customer identification requirements for banks in the Philippines, aiming to verify the true identity of customers and ensure the legal existence and organizational structure of entities, in order to protect the integrity of the financial system.

Law Summary

Verification Requirements for Customers

  • Banks must maintain a robust system to verify the true identity of their customers.
  • For corporate and juridical entities, verification of legal existence, organizational structure, and authority of persons acting on behalf is mandatory.

Identification Requirements for Individual Customers

  • Accounts must be opened under the customer's true and full name.
  • Use of aliases is permitted only if officially registered with the relevant government agency pursuant to existing laws.

Identification Requirements for Corporate and Juridical Entities

  • Accounts must be opened under the true and full name of the entity.
  • Banks must develop systematic procedures to identify entities such as corporations, partnerships, and sole proprietorships.
  • Identification must extend to stockholders, partners, owners, directors, officers, and authorized signatories.

Identification of Trustors, Beneficial Owners, and Related Persons

  • Banks must establish the true and full identity of trustors, principals, beneficial owners, trustees, nominees, agents, and intermediaries.
  • This ensures transparency and control over accounts opened on behalf of others.

Identification of Unregistered Associations and Organizations

  • Associations, organizations, societies, groups or bodies of persons not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission must comply with individual customer identification rules.

Regulatory Authority and Implementation

  • The guidelines are pursuant to Section X806 of the MORB.
  • Banks are reminded to observe these procedures as a regulatory mandate to maintain systemic integrity.

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