Source: Adobe Stock.In 2020, the Utah legislature passed measures to begin a pilot program for mobile driver’s licenses. Two years later, one of the country’s largest credit unions announced that it will immediately begin accepting mobile driver’s licenses (mDLs) as a valid form of identification.
In a statement Wednesday, America First Credit Union ($17 billion in assets, 1.2 million members) in Riverdale, Utah said all of its 121 branches in Utah and Arizona will accept mDLs for ID verification for all banking transactions.
The announcement stated Utah was the first state in the US to pilot mDLs that are fully compliant with the ISO 18013-5 international security standard, which means the mDL is accepted globally as a legal form of identification.
“Mobile driver’s licenses allow for information such as name or age to be confirmed contactlessly and unequivocally with a simple scan or tap – without the mobile phone ever changing hands. A person never has to show or hand over their phone,” the statement read.
Officials with the technology vendor for the Utah mDL program, GET Group North America, said the mDLs give citizens greater control over their personal data.
“We’re excited to see the mDL ecosystem – both in Utah and nationally – continuing to grow and we’re very pleased to have America First Credit Union as part of that growing environment,” GET Group North America Managing Director Alex Kambanis said. “We look forward to working with AFCU to support them with technology to securely and contactlessly confirm IDs for all banking transactions.”
“America First Credit Union is in the business of protecting our members and their financial futures. We are always looking to be at the forefront of technology and are excited about our partnership with GET Group North America. With members in mind, we continue to find new and effective ways to secure our member’s data to reduce any type of fraudulent activity,” AFCU Manager of Branch Technology and Innovation Jeremy Deamer said. “The support and adoption of Mobile Drivers Licenses is one of many steps we continue to provide to our members for an additional layer of security and ease of mind for their futures.”
“Providing opportunities for more Utahans to use their mobile ID throughout the state has been a main focus for our team,” Chris Caras, director at the Utah Driver License Division, said. “Adding additional verifiers, like AFCU, allows mobile ID holders to complete transactions without compromising their personal information. We look forward to working with GET Group North America, AFCU and additional businesses to offer contactless mobile ID transactions in communities statewide.”
Only a few other states such as Colorado, Louisiana, Arizona and Georgia have successfully launched mDLs.