Have NatWest and HooYu shared a face scan of me with other sites that have my number and email?

Questions
1

2 years ago, when I knew a lot less about privacy, I opened a NatWest bank account in the UK on a family member’s iPhone (I use a BlackBerry Curve as my phone for privacy). NatWest use a provider named HooYu to scan your face and passport. I stupidly did this instead of opening an account in branch or with another bank. They said they wouldn’t use it for any other purpose but I know they’d only get a small fine if they did. I also gave my mobile number and email. Is it likely they shared my face and passport with other sites that have my number and email? I created a Google account 3 years ago but deleted it this year.

1 Like
2

They could have however there is little you can do about it. The best is to learn from the mistake and move on. However I will say that they are far less likely to share your passport and face scan due to PII GDPR Laws.

3

This is something I am skeptical about too. I don’t like the idea of them keeping my info. Anything beyond my ID is not ok. Also, I am curious, if you open your account at the bank, it will make a copy of your ID. Do they keep that copy for themselves? Or do they share it with HooYu? Because I would not be comfortable with the latter.

It’s also my understanding that even if you opened your account at a branch, many banks increasingly now require facial ID verification to access your account on the app. Meaning that every time you want to do a transaction, you gotta show your face. I don’t like that.

My experience: constant video verification

I recently locked myself out of one of my bank’s app because I had forgotten my app pin. I rarely use that account. I had to record multiple videos to prove my identity. I had to record the first video to prove I am the owner of the account. Once that was done, my pin was revealed to me. However, when I wanted to unfreeze my card, I had to do it again. Installed the app on a new phone, and again I had to record a video. It was very frustrating.

Unfortunately, that is unavoidable. What I also find annoying is that some banks won’t accept your phone number if it’s from another country. In other words, if you’re in a UK bank, and you want to give an Japanese number as your contact, they won’t allow you to do so.

It’s possible. You’re right to be mistrustful.

1 Like