Since the CBN's scrutiny about onboarding new customers was lifted in May 2024, OPay has tighten its security and also implements Face ID and Verification, as well as more complex KYC verification and requirements. The OPay's Face ID and verification process is designed to enhance user security and streamline account access within its mobile payment platform.
The primary reason for integrating this Face ID verification is to confirm the identity of users, thereby reducing the risk of fraud and unauthorized access to customer accounts. This process is part of OPay's commitment to enhance the way users verify their "Know Your Customer (KYC)" verification, which are increasingly mandated by the country's apex bank - the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ensure secure financial landscape for everyone.
Recall that CBN partially banned five major Nigerian fintech companies, including OPay, PalmPay, Moniepoint, Paga and Kuda, from onboarding new customers in April 2024 due to the fact that those fintechs accounts are being used for Foreign Exchange transactions which by the CBN manipulate the FX market and cause the free fall of Naira against the US dollar.
However, once the ban was lifted, OPay reaffirmed its commitment on twitter to adhering to approved KYC verification processes and urged customers to ensure all account requirements are completely fulfilled.
Why is OPay asking for Face ID and Verification?
1. Facial Recognition and Verification During KYC
OPay Face ID and Verification is mostly needed in your KYC verification whereby you'll be asked to take a selfie of yourself using the OPay App. In addition to submitting your basic personal information and verifying your identity using various methods, including a phone number, National Identification Number (NIN), and a Bank Verification Number (BVN), a real-time facial verification is also required, where you must take a selfie that the system compares against the submitted identification documents. This step is to confirm that you are really whom you claimed to be.
2. Facial verification is Needed to process huge amount of transfer
If you're sending money from your OPay account to a new bank account (be it OPay account or an account outside of OPay's banking system), a Face ID and verification will be required. In addition to that, if you're sending a huge amount of money ranging from N100,000 and above, no matter your KYC level, a facial authentication will also be required.
3. Facial verification is also required to change password and PIN
If you forget your OPay Login password or transaction PIN, before you can be allowed to request a new PIN or to "Forget Password", you'll have to pass through a facial ID authentication. If passed, you'll then have access to reset your PIN and get an OTP code for the change of password.
However, not without errors and challenges. Many OPay users have reported that "OPay face Recognition is not working" and similar issues. In fact, due to the stress the facial verification is putting users through, many users are looking for ways to remove the OPay face recognition.
How to activate and use Face ID on OPay App
Currently, OPay Face ID and Verification is activated automatically on your OPay account. It's different from Fingerprint and Torch ID. You can only activate "Pay with Fingerprint" on the OPay app for Android.
Face ID is automatically required when you want to send money to new recipient and if you're changing your OPay password or PIN. However, you cannot login your OPay account using Face verification on Android, only fingerprint can be used if it's activated.
For iPhone users, a Face ID can be used to login to OPay account and authenticate payment/transfer. Meanwhile, this is applied to only iPhones without home physical button (model X or later) that do not have fingerprint recognition.
Activating OPay's Face ID on iPhone
To activate and use Face ID on the OPay app, follow these steps:
First, open the OPay app by launching the application on your iPhone. Next, access the profile settings by tapping on the "Me" or "Profile" icon, usually located at the bottom of the screen. From there, navigate to the settings by selecting "Settings" from the profile menu. Within the settings menu, look for the "Payment Settings" option.
To activate Face ID, find the option labeled "Pay with Face ID." For security confirmation, you will need to enter your PIN. Once entered, you can toggle the Face ID feature to activate it. After activation, you can use Face ID for quick and secure transactions. When prompted during a payment, simply look at your device to authenticate the transaction using Face ID.
If you wish to deactivate Face ID, follow the same steps and toggle the option off.
OPay Face Recognition NOT Working [Fixed!]
If OPay's Face Recognition feature is not working on your app, several factors could be causing the issue. Here are some common reasons and potential fixes:
Possible Causes:
- Poor Network Connectivity: If you have a weak internet connection or there's no enough internet coverage in your current area, it can hinder the OPay app's ability to process facial recognition and verification.
- Insufficient Lighting: Low light conditions can affect the camera's ability to capture a clear selfie for verification. So, make sure you're in an area that vivid enough for face verification. Meanwhile, don't let direct sun light or any ray of light to point directly to your Camera.
- Bad Camera Quality: If your device's camera is damaged or of low quality, it may not accurately capture your face, causing OPay face recognition not working.
- App Issues and Glitches: There could be bugs or glitches within the OPay app itself, especially if it hasn't been updated recently. In this case, you can clear your app cache or update the app from your phone's app store.
- Discrepancies in Information: Mismatched details between your submitted ID and the facial recognition data can also lead to verification failure. This includes discrepancies in your Bank Verification Number (BVN) or other personal information like National Identification Number (NIN).
- Software Updates: Sometimes, updates to the device's operating system (like iOS or Android) can interfere with OPay app functionalities, including it Facial ID system.
Solutions:
- Check Your Network Connection: Ensure you have a stable internet connection, preferably Wi-Fi, to facilitate smooth operation. Having a stable internet connection will increase your chance of getting your facial verification done seamlessly and easily.
- Improve Lighting: Make sure you are in a well-lit area when attempting to use Face ID. Natural light is often best but don't let it point directly to the phone's camera.
- Inspect Camera Functionality: Test your device's camera to ensure it is functioning properly. If not, consider repairing or replacing it. You can also use another device to complete the facial recognition if your phone camera is faulty.
- Update the OPay App: Check for any available updates for the OPay app in your device's app store and install them as fast as possible so that the app can parse easily and let you verify your Face ID.
- Re-enter Information: Double-check and ensure that all personal and financial information, including your BVN and NIN, are accurate and appropriately entered and matches the records on your KYC documents.
- Restart Your Device: Sometimes, simple restarting of phones can resolve temporary glitches. You can restart your phone and start over again.
- Contact Customer Support: If issues persist, reach out to OPay's customer support for assistance. They may provide additional troubleshooting steps or identify if there are ongoing system issues.
By addressing these potential causes and implementing the suggested solutions, you should be able to resolve issues with OPay's Face Recognition that's not working.
How to Remove OPay Face Recognition
It's not possible to remove OPay Face ID and Verification as the feature is automatic on the OPay App. Face ID Recognition is automatically requested whenever a change of PIN or password is essential. It's also applied when you're trying to transfer huge amount of money to new recipient. The OPay Face ID is automatically implemented to protect your account from any unauthorize transaction, hence, it cannot be removed.
However, aside from the automated implementation, iOS users who use iPhones that have no home physical button or fingerprint recognition can actually disable a Face ID for login and payment processing on their OPay App. Please note that the automated facial recognition and verification implemented by OPay for authentication of huge money transfer and change of password and PIN can also not be removed on iPhone.
Notwithstanding, to remove OPay's Face Recognition feature for Login and Payment on iPhone, follow these steps:
First, open the OPay app and go to your profile settings by tapping on the "Me" or "Profile" icon. Next, navigate to the settings and look for the "Payment Settings" option. Within Payment Settings, find the "Pay with Face ID" feature and toggle it off to deactivate it.
To completely remove the stored face data, go to Settings > Security and Privacy > Biometrics > Face Recognition. Enter your PIN or password when prompted. Then, tap "Remove Face Data" to delete the current facial recognition data associated with your account.
After removing the face data, you will need to re-register your face if you wish to use the Face ID feature again in the future. This process involves capturing your face data and storing it securely on your device for authentication purposes.
It's important to note that removing the face data will not impact your OPay account itself. It simply disables the Face ID verification method, and you can continue to access your account using alternative authentication methods like your PIN or password.
