Utah was one of 30 U.S. states to pilot digital driver licenses in 2021 to expand smartphone capabilities with identity credentials.
Announced on Wednesday by one of the country’s largest financial institutions, The America First Credit Union is set to allow mobile driver’s licenses to be used as a method of verification for banking transactions across all of its 121 branches in Utah and Arizona.
The America First Credit Union is federally chartered credit union with over 1.2 million members and $17.63 billion in total assets.
Coinciding with advancements in smartphone technology, identity assets from ID cards to photographs and payment methods have become readily available in a digital form to convenience consumers at any time. Several states including Arizona and Georgia have already adopted the Apple Wallet which allows users to add their driver’s license or other ID to their iPhone or Apple Watch.
Speaking on the Apple Wallet’s inclusion of digital driver’s licenses, Jennifer Bailey, Vice President of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, said: “The addition of driver’s licenses and state IDs to Apple Wallet is an important step in our vision of replacing the physical wallet with a secure and easy-to-use mobile wallet”.
The mobile driver’s license simply verifies key personal information relating to a person’s identity such as their name and age contactlessly and accurately with one tap or scan, giving users more control and ownership over how they confirm and verify their identity.
“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, commented. “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 transaction in communities statewide.”
Identity data in the user’s digital driver’s license or state ID is encrypted and protected against the risk of fraud or ID theft.
Utah was the first U.S. state to pilot mobile digital licenses that meet the ISO 18013-5 global security standard.
Find mobile driver license solutions at Identity Week America this 4-5 October. Gold Sponsor, Thales has delivered driver license verification services to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles as well as developed solutions for residents in Florida.
