RBC Mobile App Now Lets Customers Authenticate with Client Card PIN Number

RBC announced on Wednesday the launch of “ground-breaking technology” to protect customer information online, debuting in its RBC Mobile app for Android and iOS.

The bank says customers can now use their personal PIN from their client card, or biometrics to securely authenticate their identity on their smartphone.

Android users will see Near-Field Communications (NFC) being leveraged, allowing them to tap their RBC bank card, then enter their personal PIN, when they need to reset their online banking password. RBC explained in an email this extra security layer and authentication method through its mobile app is “one of the first instances of this technology being used by any bank worldwide.”

iOS users are limited in how NFC can be used on the iPhone, thus they can use biometrics such as Face ID or Touch ID on their devices first, before inputting their personal PIN from their client card, when resetting their online banking password.

There’s an option in the RBC app to “Reset with Client Card PIN”. Next, you continue with Face ID, then enter your RBC Client Card PIN within 5 minutes. After that’s confirmed, you can then enter a new password that is 8-32 characters, and also must contain 1 upper-case letter, 1 lower-case letter, and 1 number or 1 special character.

“Clients trust us with some of their most sensitive and personal information, and we take that responsibility seriously,” said Peter Tilton, Chief Digital Officer, Personal & Commercial Banking, RBC, in a statement to iPhone in Canada.

“As Canadians increasingly choose to bank digitally, it is more important than ever that we empower them with the tools they need to safely manage their money. PIN on Mobile, with its industry-leading digital security patterns, is yet another way RBC is striving to make RBC Mobile the safest and most trusted banking app in the world for our clients,” added Tilton.

According to RBC’s 2022 Fraud Prevention Month Poll, 48% of respondents noted they have seen a surge in fraud attempts since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

RBC says its clients can use this new authentication method when they need to reset their online banking password. The feature will be scaled to other RBC applications over the coming months.