Banks began to notify customers about the transfer of biometrics to the EBS

Sberbank from June 22, he began to notify his clients who had previously submitted biometrics about the transfer of data to the state Unified Biometric System (GIS EBS), writes “Kommersant”.

“Clients are sent SMS or push notifications informing about the transfer of data to the EBS, and if the client does not mind, after 30 days the data will be transferred to the EBS via a secure channel in automatic mode,” the press service of Sberbank said.

The bank also remembered that the client has the right to refuse to transfer data, in which case they will be deleted from the Sberbank system. The Center for Biometric Technologies (CBT, a subsidiary of Rostelecom – the EBS operator) previously reported 75 million biometric samples accumulated by commercial systems (now the collection of biometrics in them is prohibited), and Sberbank accounts for more than 30 million of them.

The head of the CBT, Vladislav Povolotsky, noted in a conversation with the publication that each biometrics exporter has already drawn up its own schedule, and interested organizations have already connected or are in the process of connecting to the EBS test environment.

“They are testing the functionality and technical feasibility of transferring samples. As part of the tests, real customer data is not processed or transmitted,” he said.

The Bank of Russia, in turn, said that banks are “finishing their own information systems” to transfer data to the EBS. IN VTB And RSHB told the newspaper that they would launch a biometric handover alert after testing is complete.

The EBS was established in 2018 at the initiative of the Ministry of Communications and Mass Media (successor – Ministry of Digital Development) and the Bank of Russia. Its operator was appointed “Rostelecom“. Scenarios for using the system were originally tailored for the banking sector and provided for the possibility of opening a bank account or obtaining a loan.

On December 29, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law banning the forced collection of biometric data of Russians, as well as any discrimination against those who refused to surrender it. Refusal to submit biometrics can be issued in writing through any branch of the MFC. Citizens who do not want to provide biometric data will not be able to be denied services, including state and municipal services, any discrimination or denial of services in connection with this will be punished.