Learn more
Glossary
share:

What’s the best type of KYC solution for a regulated financial services company?

The best type of KYC solution for a regulated financial services company is an orchestrated, automated platform like GBG, Ondato, Sumsub or Jumio.

These platforms unify what many banks, payments companies and lenders still manage separately: data checks, document verification, biometric authentication, sanctions/PEP screening, ongoing monitoring and fraud controls.

The real value here lies in orchestration. Rather than pushing every applicant through the same static sequence, these systems create adaptive, risk-based journeys that speed up approvals while meeting tightening AML/KYC expectations.

Why orchestrated KYC matters for regulated financial services

For regulated financial institutions, KYC is the entry point to revenue and a critical defence against financial crime. When onboarding is fragmented or manual, three problems typically surface:

  • Slow, high-friction onboarding that causes unnecessary customer drop-off
  • Incomplete compliance, with evidence and audit trails spread across different tools
  • Higher fraud risk because teams lack a unified customer view

That’s why a manual approach becomes fragile as onboarding volumes rise, regulations evolve and firms expand internationally.

“Onboarding is an instant reflection on how a business operates. Yours might be the best product in the world, but if customer onboarding is difficult, you instantly lose faith.” – Darren Neil, KYC Specialist at GBG

Orchestrated KYC platforms, on the other hand, replace static flows with dynamic routing that adapts to customer risk, local data availability and regulatory rules.

An overview: Leading orchestrated KYC platforms

Capability GBG Ondato Sumsub Jumio
Global coverage 195+ countries; extensive identity datasets, 8,500+ global ID types 190+ countries; supports major ID types globally Global coverage Supports 5,000+ global ID types
Identity and document verification Data, document, biometric verification in one platform, 80+ modules Photo, video, NFC verification, OCR, authenticity checks, liveness Document + non-doc verification, liveness, registry checks AI-driven ID authentication, advanced liveness detection
Dynamic orchestration / risk-based journeys Adaptive journeys, configurable risk thresholds, templates, A/B optimization Customizable flows Rule-based, no-code workflow builder Workflows based on risk score triggering extra checks
Fraud prevention Fraud modules + consortium intelligence via GBG Trust, synthetic ID and anomaly detection Fraud resistance via document/liveness accuracy + registry checks Behavioral signals, device intelligence, fraud monitoring Fraud deterrence via liveness, risk scoring for step-up checks
AML screening and monitoring Sanctions, PEP, adverse media + ongoing global screening PEP, sanctions, adverse media + ongoing monitoring Full AML screening + transaction monitoring Sanctions, PEP, adverse media screening
Configurability and integration Single API, intuitive UI, low-code journey configuration API, SDKs, static links, modular setup No-code workflows, APIs, SDKs, no-code links APIs, SDKs, web client, configurable workflow rules

GBG: End-to-end orchestration for regulated institutions

GBG Go is an identity orchestration platform designed for regulated, growth-focused financial services firms. It brings together more than 80 identity, fraud and risk modules across 195+ countries via a single API and UI.

Key capabilities:

  • Full KYC/AML orchestration: Combine data checks, documents, biometrics, sanctions/PEP screening and monitoring in a single workflow.
  • Global and local data coverage: Hundreds of datasets and deep local partnerships to improve match rates across 195+ countries.
  • Fraud protection from first contact: Detect synthetic IDs, risky behavior and fraudulent patterns with consortium intelligence from GBG Trust.
  • Low-code configuration: Adjust thresholds, modify journeys, run A/B tests and update rules without engineering dependencies.
  • Analytics and auditability: Real-time KPIs, decision-level explanations and regulator-ready reporting.
  • Enterprise-level scale: Built on decades of identity expertise and proven in high-volume, regulated environments.

Ondato: Fast remote identity verification and lifecycle AML

Ondato offers end-to-end KYC, KYB and AML screening, with a strong focus on remote identity verification.

Highlights:

  • Verification via live video agents, NFC reads, OCR, liveness and document authenticity checks
  • Coverage for passports, IDs and licences from 190+ countries
  • Compliance-by-design reflecting AMLDs, GDPR, eIDAS and NIST
  • Integrated screening for sanctions, PEPs, adverse media and ongoing due diligence
  • Deployment via API, SDKs or no-code links

Ondato is well suited for firms needing fast, flexible verification methods with minimal setup complexity.

Sumsub: Unified KYC, KYB, AML and case management

Sumsub provides a single environment for onboarding, screening, transaction monitoring and investigations.

Key strengths:

  • No-code Workflow Builder to set conditional, risk-based journeys
  • Full verification stack: document, non-document, liveness, address and registry checks
  • Ongoing AML screening and behavioral monitoring
  • AI-powered case management for investigations and regulatory reporting
  • Integration options ranging from no-code links to full APIs

Sumsub is ideal for institutions looking to integrate onboarding, monitoring and case management in one system.

Jumio: AI-Driven verification and risk-based orchestration

Jumio focuses on automated identity proofing and fraud prevention at scale.

Key capabilities include:

  • AI-powered ID authentication and biometric liveness checks
  • Configurable, risk-based workflows that apply friction only where needed
  • Ongoing sanctions/PEP screening and adverse media monitoring
  • Support for 5,000+ global ID types
  • APIs, SDKs and browser-based options for integration

Jumio is a strong choice for companies prioritising real-time verification and advanced document/biometric accuracy.

What to look for in a KYC solution for regulated financial services companies

When you evaluate providers, focus on six core capabilities:

1. End-to-end automation and orchestration

Ideally, you want a platform that supports the whole lifecycle: data and document verification, biometrics, CDD and EDD, sanctions/PEP screening, ongoing monitoring and rescreening – all orchestrated in one place.

It should also support dynamic routing, so low-risk customers are fast-tracked while high-risk journeys automatically trigger extra checks or manual review.

2. Global, local-appropriate coverage

Regulated firms rarely stay in one market. Look for global KYC coverage across 190+ countries with both breadth (number of markets) and depth (local, authoritative data sources and documents for each).

That includes credit bureaus, government and registry data, plus robust document and biometric capabilities.

3. High match rates and low false positives

Every failed match adds cost and friction. Ask vendors how they perform in your key markets and segments, which datasets they use, and how they handle thin-file customers or younger demographics.

Strong providers will use multi-bureau and multi-dataset strategies to maximize straight-through approvals.

4. Built-in regulatory and audit support

The right solution should help you stay ahead of changing KYC/AML rules by embedding jurisdiction-specific logic, providing complete audit trails for every decision and simplifying reporting for regulators and internal committees.

5. Configurability without constant engineering work

Compliance and product teams need to be able to adjust thresholds, rules and workflows themselves, without waiting on dev sprints for every change.

Look for low-code journey builders, configurable risk scoring and the ability to A/B test workflows based on performance metrics.

6. Strong integrations, data network and support

Finally, your KYC stack should plug neatly into your existing onboarding flows, case management tools and CRM.

Modern APIs/SDKs, good developer experience and a proven track record with large financial institutions are essential – as is access to a broader fraud network or consortium data to spot risk at first contact.

Final thoughts

For regulated financial services companies, the “best” KYC solution is ultimately the one that orchestrates all key KYC elements into adaptive, global, audit-ready journeys – and does it in a way that lets you connect safely with every genuine identity while keeping fraud and compliance risk under control.

FAQs

What are the different types of KYC solutions available?

There are many types of KYC solutions available, including: 

  • Point solutions: Handle one task (e.g., document checks, PEP screening). Useful for basic needs but highly fragmented.
  • Semi-integrated stacks: Internal teams connect multiple tools themselves. Flexible but resource-intensive with scattered audit trails.
  • Automated KYC platforms: Provide unified document and biometric verification. Strong UX, but they often lack full orchestration or deep compliance workflows.
  • Orchestrated KYC platforms: End-to-end solutions combining verification, AML screening, fraud prevention, and monitoring into dynamic, risk-based journeys. Best suited for regulated FS firms due to configurability, auditability, and global coverage.
  • In-house systems: Fully custom builds used by some large banks, but costly to maintain and slow to adapt to new regulations.

For regulated financial services, orchestrated KYC platforms are the most effective and sustainable choice.

How do KYC requirements differ for regulated vs non-regulated companies?

Regulated financial services companies must comply with jurisdiction-specific AML/KYC laws, including:

  • Mandatory identity verification
  • Rsk-based customer due diligence (CDD/EDD)
  • Ongoing monitoring and rescreening
  • Sanctions/PEP checks
  • Audit-ready documentation for every verification step

Non-regulated businesses may adopt lighter or optional KYC processes, often prioritizing speed over depth.

 

Sources:

Get in touch with GBG

Request a demo