Alternative Biometric Verification Options for Medically Vulnerable and Mask-dependent SingPass Users

1 Miss Rachel Ong asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance whether the Government will work with digital-only banks to provide alternative biometric or non-facial verification options for SingPass, to ensure accessibility for medically vulnerable users who rely on nasal ventilation masks or other medical equipment that obstructs facial recognition.

Mr Gan Kim Yong (for the Prime Minister): The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) requires banks to implement multifactor authentication for online banking security. For banks that use SingPass face verification as one of the authentication factors, MAS expects them to offer alternative verification methods for customers who are unable to use facial recognition technology, including those with medical conditions.

Customers of banks, including digital-only banks, who encounter face verification issues can contact their bank's customer service team for assistance.