What is Open Banking?  

Open Banking has been acknowledged as a wonderful technology that can bring far-reaching changes to the housing sector in the UK. However, there are many misconceptions in the stakeholders' minds regarding the technology's effectiveness. Is it a secure resource for all your financial data, or are there some loopholes that can leak information? Certain misunderstandings persist about Open Banking, but many individuals recognise it as a reliable security measure for property professionals in fulfilling regulatory obligations.

Open banking explained

Open Banking is influencing the global financial arena in a big way by merging innovation, consumer empowerment, and regulatory insight to democratise financial information. However, the extent of acceptance among individuals relocating their residences remains uncertain, as they have misunderstandings and privacy apprehensions. The industry's reception of this technological advancement is also a grey area.

Yet, many see this technology as a mechanism that helps consumers and businesses share their financial information with an authorised provider. When individuals utilise this technology to share their financial data, the access granted is 'read-only,' this indicates that the provider can merely view the data and has no control over it. Consumers typically give permission through their bank's online banking or mobile app.

All applications and services utilising Open Banking are subject to regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This regulatory oversight entails strict adherence to rigorous rules and standards to ensure consumer data security. Open banking also adheres to anti-money laundering regulations.

What are the concerns and risks of Open Banking?

It is seen that many consumers express reluctance to utilise open banking platforms due to a lack of understanding about its nature and functionality. Misconceptions often lead consumers to believe that Open Banking gathers more data and creates a perception of invasiveness. As a result, individuals involved in property transactions might opt for conventional paper-based or email methods. However, sending information through email or postal services is not foolproof either. It involves an element of risk, as statements could be tampered with or intercepted while transmitted.

The key benefits of open Banking

Open Banking is a powerful tool for mitigating the risks associated with data breaches, hacking, and inadequate security measures. It plays a pivotal role in safeguarding consumer data and provides a robust defense against fraudulent activities and money laundering. Open Banking ensures secure data access and transmission through proven and safe technologies. Importantly, consumers are never required to disclose their bank login details, PINs, or passwords to anyone other than their bank.

Open Banking also adopts a consumer-led access approach, empowering individuals to determine when, with whom, and for how long their data is accessible. It establishes a single source of truth for data, allowing the linking of multiple accounts. This enhances user convenience and provides verifiable evidence that financial records are authentic and directly sourced. It offers an additional layer of protection wherein the consumer's bank or building society refunds unauthorised payments. This protection is conditional on the service utilising Open Banking for payments.

How will Open Banking influence property transactions?

To ensure that estate agents and conveyancers fully comprehend the benefits of open banking, service providers continually update the materials provided to clients, including an informative video explaining the advantages. For added assurance, agents and clients are encouraged to verify that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) authorises any provider requesting Open Banking permission. This verification process checks the FCA Register or Open Banking Directory, ensuring that only legitimate entities can view financial data. This proactive step contributes to a secure and reliable Open Banking ecosystem for agents and consumers.