Unified Authentication Platform Enhances Security, Supports Erste's Growth Strategy
AUSTIN, Texas, May 22, 2024 – HID, a worldwide leader in trusted identity solutions, announces today that Erste Group has successfully deployed a highly secure, streamlined cloud-based authentication experience from HID, serving millions of banking customers across Europe.
Erste is one of the leading banking groups in Central and Eastern Europe for advising and servicing private customers as well as corporate clients. With some 2,000 branches in seven countries, the bank is dedicated to serving as a trusted financial advisor for all customers, with a mission centered on empowering them to cultivate sustained financial health.
Through its all-in-one banking platform and financial companion named George, Erste strives to deliver and maintain a consistent user experience (UX) across all its markets. But to cater to local compliance needs, language nuances, terminology requirements and ultimately deliver customer service excellence, each country has a unique version of George. That includes authentication, which used to require a separate app to complete.
Managing multiple authentication vendors was too cumbersome, and Erste needed to ensure a more consistent and highly secure authentication experience.
“We selected HID’s solution for its scalability, compliance with PSD2 and Open Banking with dynamic linking — a true mobile-first approach,” says Tudor Georgescu, Platform Initiatives Lead for Erste Group.
HID Approve, powered by HID’s cloud-based Authentication Platform, was seamlessly incorporated into George as the digital financial companion, making the banking app consistent in all markets. Combined, the two solutions allowed George to validate users’ access requests and verify transactions swiftly and securely via scalable cloud delivery model.
The Authentication Platform’s flexibility was able to address the diverse preferences for Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) methods, accommodating various factors such as one-time password (OTP), biometrics, and more. During the phased migration, HID also provided crucial Professional Services support to work hand in hand with Erste to implement best practices related to solution design, user experience, as well as Application Programming Interface (API) and Software Development Kit (SDK) implementation, all to ensure a successful transition.
The partnership with HID not only resolved immediate challenges but also positioned Erste for long-term success by eliminating the need to work with multiple vendors and advancing the bank’s strategic direction. Today, every customer log-in is using George powered by the HID Authentication Platform.
With the authentication solution from HID, Erste achieved:
- A true mobile first approach
- A consistent and seamless UX
- Compliance with PSD2 and Open Banking Regulations
- Migration of 3.5 million users in Romania and Czech Republic within 4 months
- 4 million active customers with more that 100 million monthly log-ins
- A projection of 5 million users by the end of 2024 and 9 million by 2025
- Vendor consolidation for streamlined digital experience
“Having HID as our trusted advisor and partner in this journey was a key asset that contributed to the success of this project,” concludes Georgescu.
Learn more about this successful project or download the ebook for more information on secure authentication.
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About Erste Group Bank
Erste Group is the leading financial services provider in the eastern part of the EU. Its ca. 45,000 employees (FTE) serve over 16 million customers in nearly 2,000 branches in 7 countries (Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, Croatia, and Serbia). For the financial year 2023, Erste Group had 337 billion euros in total assets, posted a net profit of 2.99 billion euros, and had a common equity tier 1 ratio (final) of 15.7%.
About HID
HID powers the trusted identities of the world’s people, places and things. We make it possible for people to transact safely, work productively and travel freely. Our trusted identity solutions give people convenient access to physical and digital places and connect things that can be identified, verified and tracked digitally. Millions of people around the world use HID products and services to navigate their everyday lives, and billions of things are connected through HID technology. We work with governments, educational institutions, hospitals, financial institutions, industrial businesses and some of the most innovative companies on the planet. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, HID has over 4,500 employees worldwide and operates international offices that support more than 100 countries. HID is an ASSA ABLOY Group brand. For more information, visit www.hidglobal.com.
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