The Philippines has established a new standard for secure and inclusive digital banking through the implementation of a risk-based authentication strategy.
Singapore, October 15, 2025 – iProov, the world’s leading provider of science-based biometric identity assurance solutions, today announced that UnionDigital Bank, a pioneering digital bank in the Philippines, has deployed iProov Dynamic and Express Liveness solutions to protect against account takeover and mule activity. iProov’s solutions now help UnionDigital Bank improve its security by allowing stronger protection for risky transactions while still making it easy for customers to use their services regularly. Risk-based authentication allows the bank to support its mission to deliver a safe and inclusive digital experience for the underbanked and underserved communities in the Philippines who depend on mobile devices for everyday financial services.
The financial services sector is on high alert as a global surge in sophisticated, AI-driven threats has been observed, as organisations worldwide unite to commemorate Cybersecurity Awareness Month. This has heightened the emphasis in the Philippines on the need to strengthen resilience against cyber threats, such as account takeovers (in which fraudsters illegally access a user’s account) and mule activity (which involves the use of accounts to launder illicit funds). To combat these risks, UnionDigital Bank decided to upgrade its previous device-based biometrics technology to align with the increasing focus from financial regulators globally, including the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, on strengthening security measures to protect consumers.
iProov’s dual liveness solutions are user-friendly and provide unparalleled identity assurance, as well as proactive deepfake and fraud detection. A distinctive characteristic of iProov’s solutions is that the bank has the ability to choose between them during each transaction to guarantee that the appropriate level of identity assurance is provided for each specific action. Express Liveness offers rapid, seamless verification for transaction limit increases, while iProov Dynamic Liveness enhances fraud resilience for new device log-ins. This model, which the bank intends to expand in the future, prioritises a seamless user experience while simultaneously boosting customer confidence and enhancing security.
Russell Hernandez, Chief Information Security Officer at UnionDigital Bank, stated, “Our mission is to uplift the lives of all Filipinos through a secure, trusted, and accessible digital bank for all Filipinos, and that requires deploying resilient infrastructure capable of addressing sophisticated fraud. Our vision is for every Filipino to use UnionDigital Bank to empower their lives. As we shift toward risk-based authentication, we need a flexible and future-ready solution. iProov’s internationally proven ability to deliver ease of use, speed, and high security assurance — backed by reliable vendor support — ensures we can evolve our fraud defenses while sustaining customer trust and confidence.”
Andrew Bud, founder and CEO of iProov, added, “We are delighted to have been chosen by UnionDigital Bank to support its mission to deliver secure and truly inclusive digital banking across the Philippines. Proving that someone is who they claim to be online is at the heart of digital trust. Our technology provides the highest level of identity assurance on virtually any device to provide that protection. This ensures UnionDigital Bank can secure all its customers with an effortless and resilient solution, which is especially crucial for underbanked communities who rely on mobile devices for their financial needs.”
