KINGSTON, Jamaica — The ability to create a new bank account online is to become a reality for Jamaicans, as the Government strengthens its partnership with banks in its implementation of the National Identification System (NIDS) this year.

As part of this collaboration, the Government through the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) has given approval for the National Commercial Bank (NCB) to integrate services that will allow for such online transactions.

This was announced by Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, Floyd Green during his contribution to the 2023/24 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

He said that NCB has been given permission to pursue three “use cases” that integrate the services of the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), the new entity that will replace the Registrar General’s Department (RGD) and handle the layered rollout and management of NIDS.

He explained that the three use cases being pursued by NCB are face-to-face deposit account on-boarding, online deposit account onboarding with biometric (Fingerprints + Face) authentication and know your customer (KYC) remediation.

“This is a massive game-changer. What it means is that when we get NIDS up and running, The NCB has the authority to open online accounts using NIDS; open accounts without people having to go into the bank to get that done. This is Prime Minister (Andrew Holness’) vision [where] those who are outside and who have been trying to come inside and are unable to, we use the technology to let them in. We are making lives better for all Jamaicans,” he said.

Green noted that the Government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with 10 deposit taking institutions last year in a bid see how they could work together to use NIDS to make the opening of bank accounts easier for regular Jamaicans.

In the meantime, Green said that as the Administration moves into the official roll out of NIDs this calendar year, the Government will go to tender to select contractors to commence the modification of an additional 19 post offices to expand access to the National Identification card.

“We are presently finishing the enrollment center at the Post Office Mall in Liguanea and will break ground for Mona and Constant Spring. We will be utilising the post offices spaces to create modern, state of the art enrollment facilities. What we will be doing is revamping the post office space and it will be equipped for persons with disabilities,” he said.

Green said that over the next six months, the Government will be ramping up its public education about the usefulness of the National ID and the plans for the national roll out of NIDS..

“Already we have started on-the-ground engagements, and we will be utilising the traditional and social media engagements to spread the word. [We will also be hosting] town halls and school visits as we remind people of how the National ID will make their lives better,” he said.

NIDS is an electronic form of identity that will provide a comprehensive and secure database for capturing and storing the personal information of citizens and non-nationals ordinarily resident in the country.