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Identity proofing solutions that help businesses onboard young customers who can't be verified through data alone

Many younger customers are genuine, but they often look risky to identity verification systems that rely on traditional data like credit histories. When these data checks fail, you risk rejecting good customers or creating slow onboarding experiences that drive them away. 

Document verification, biometrics and fraud intelligence help close this gap by providing alternative ways to establish trust. 

Identity proofing solutions that help businesses onboard young customers who can't be verified through data alone include us, Veriff and Jumio.

Leading identity proofing solutions for onboarding young customers: a comparison*

Provider

Global document coverage

Alternative verification methods

Orchestration flexibility

GBG

Supports 8,500+ document types across 195 countries

Document authentication, biometric face matching, liveness detection, fraud intelligence signals

Full identity orchestration with adaptive workflows and dynamic routing

Veriff

Supports 12,000+ document types in 230+ countries

AI-powered face matching, passive liveness detection, device and behavioral signals

Offers ability to configure workflows and adjust verification paths

Jumio

Identity verification spans 200+ countries and 5,000+ IDs

Biometric selfie matching, liveness detection, AI-driven document verification

Supports configurable identity verification workflows and decisioning logic

We helps businesses optimize onboarding for younger customer segments

We provide a specialized suite of identity tools designed to help you connect safely with every genuine user, even those with limited credit histories. 

By combining authoritative data with advanced document and biometric authentication, our platform helps you grow your customer base without increasing your risk profile.

Since we've written this article, we'll highlight the ways we help companies onboard young customers with more than just data checks before covering some alternative solutions. 

Onboarding of young thin-file customers with document-led verification

When identity data is unavailable or insufficient, we use automated document authentication to keep the process moving. Our technology verifies government-issued identity documents to establish trust where traditional databases fall short. 

This approach is particularly effective for supporting students or young adults who haven't yet built a deep credit or identity history. By moving to a document-led path immediately when a data check fails, you can significantly reduce drop-offs.

"For certain demographics, a government-issued ID may be the only way to prove someone is a real person. An 18-year-old likely has no credit card, no loan, no presence in a credit bureau file. When they present a government ID, we can pass them. So document verification actually improves pass rates for companies that were only doing identity verification before," says Karthik Mani, CPTO & GM, Documents and Biometrics, at GBG.

Verification of identity through biometric matching and real-time presence checks

We add a stronger layer of assurance by linking applicants directly to their identity documents using facial biometric comparison. Our system uses liveness detection to confirm the applicant is physically present during onboarding, which helps prevent impersonation attempts using stolen credentials or synthetic identities. 

This real-time check provides the high level of confidence needed when standard data signals aren't enough to make a final decision.

Dynamic orchestration to optimize verification paths in real time

Our KYC orchestration platform, GBG Go, adjusts verification steps in real time based on identity confidence and risk signals. 

It routes users through lighter or more advanced checks depending on the specific situation, ensuring low-risk customers enjoy a fast-track experience. Higher-risk cases are automatically sent through additional layers, such as biometric verification, within a single adaptive workflow.

According to Stefan Gajewski, Head of Product – Identity here at GBG, treating every customer the same is a major challenge for many companies. Static journeys often screen young people against expensive credit checks they won't match on, whereas dynamic orchestration allows you to create efficient, demographic-specific paths.

Read more: How to improve KYC conversion rates

Veriff

Veriff is a global identity verification provider known for its highly automated, AI-driven approach to ID checks. The company focuses on providing high speed and high accuracy through a platform that handles complex global ID formats.

How Veriff helps onboard young customers with alternative verification methods:

  • AI-powered face matching compares a user's selfie to their identity document to confirm ownership
  • Passive liveness detection verifies genuine user presence during onboarding without requiring complex user movements
  • Automated document capture technology helps reduce quality issues such as glare or blur, making it easier for young users to submit a valid scan on the first try
  • Real-time verification workflows process applications quickly, which helps reduce manual review requirements and speed up the total time to play or transact

Jumio

Jumio provides an AI-powered platform designed to orchestrate the entire identity lifecycle. A standout feature is its emphasis on reusable identities that allow returning users to verify themselves instantly across different services.

How Jumio helps onboard young customers with alternative verification methods:

  • Biometric selfie verification uses advanced algorithms to compare the applicant to the image on their government ID
  • Liveness detection helps defend against spoofing attempts and sophisticated impersonation attacks
  • AI-driven document verification analyzes uploaded IDs for signs of fraud, manipulation or digital editing
  • Automated identity verification workflows help reduce friction for legitimate users, improving the overall sign-up experience
  • Reusable ID allows returning users to verify themselves instantly by linking a new selfie to their previously verified documents and historical biometrics

Why onboarding young customers through data alone often fails

Relying exclusively on established databases means missing out on an entire generation of digital-native consumers. Onboarding young customers via data alone often fails because:

  • Limited or thin credit and identity histories reduce data match success. Many young users have little to no credit footprint, meaning they won't appear in traditional bureau files used by many financial services firms. This leads to much higher rates of false fails or no-hit results that can stall your growth.
  • Data-only verification can actually create extra onboarding friction. When your system can't find a match in a database, genuine customers are often incorrectly rejected or forced into long manual review queues. This causes drop-off rates to rise during onboarding as users lose patience.
  • Fraud risk still exists even in low-data populations. Synthetic identities can sometimes bypass weak data checks that don't look for inconsistent patterns. Fraudsters specifically exploit thin-file segments because they know there is less historical data to disprove a new identity claim.

In summary

Successfully onboarding young customers requires moving past a data-only approach. By integrating document verification, biometrics and dynamic orchestration, you can provide a seamless journey for legitimate users while keeping your business secure. 

We combine unmatched global data depth with a configurable orchestration platform that adapts to every user's unique risk profile.

FAQs

Can I onboard someone with no credit history?

Yes, by using identity proofing solutions that rely on document verification and biometrics rather than credit bureau data. This allows you to verify a user's name, age and identity using their passport or driver's license even if they have no financial footprint.

How does biometric liveness detection prevent fraud?

Liveness detection confirms that a real, living person is present during the onboarding process. It prevents fraudsters from using high-resolution photos, masks or pre-recorded videos (known as presentation attacks) to impersonate a genuine user.

Why do young customers drop off during identity checks?

High drop-off rates are usually caused by excessive friction, such as requiring too many documents or forced manual review wait times. Younger users expect an instant, mobile-first experience, so any delay in the verification process significantly increases the chance of abandonment.

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*Disclaimer: Information relating to third-party products and companies referenced in this article is based on publicly available sources and official publications at the time of writing. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, product features, positioning and company information may change and GBG does not guarantee that all information remains current or complete.

Nothing in this article constitutes an endorsement, recommendation or ranking of any third-party provider. Readers should consult each provider’s official website and conduct their own assessment before making any purchasing decisions.

To request an update or correction, please contact communications@gbg.com 

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