EQUIFAX LIMITED

Equifax Bank Account Verification

Equifax Bank Account Verifier (BAV) is a comprehensive and versatile web or API service that quickly verifies a customer’s identity and validates whether the bank account details provided are correct, valid and associated to the applicant. Equifax utilises data directly from the banks to input data to maximise accuracy.

Features

• Extensive coverage of all types of UK bank accounts
• Ability to match against current, basic and non-consented accounts
• Checks are made against all previous and linked addresses
• Provides a clear link between A/C, sort code and person
• A further verification of the identity
• Logical and user friendly navigation options
• Fully compliant with all relevant legislation
• Simple and intuitive to use
• No need to re-architect any existing systems
• Full helpdesk support, online and by phone

Benefits

• Helps ensure that fraudulent individuals are identified
• Ensures that only genuine direct debits are accepted for payment
• Wider range of accounts improves match rates substantially
• Can uncover linked addresses associated to fraud
• Can match where individual has not informed bank of move
• Reduces risk of fraudulent use of stolen bank details
• Mitigate risk of impersonation fraud
• Ensures genuine bank details for repayments due
• Improves customer experience

• Free trial available

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Service definition document

  PDF

• Terms and conditions

  PDF

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at bid.team@equifax.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.

Framework

G-Cloud 15

Service ID

333980896121329

Contact

Oliver Abbott
+44 7825 313734
bid.team@equifax.com

About your service

• Service categories:

  Application Development and Deployment

  Analytics and business intelligence

  • Business Intelligence
• Multi cloud support: No

Service scope

• Software add-on or extension: No
• Cloud deployment model: Private cloud
• Service constraints: No
• System requirements: Bank Account Verifier Access provided via supported browser

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Yes
• Support response times: Email responses are the same at weekends. User support is 24/7.
• User can manage status and priority of support tickets: No
• Phone support: Yes
• Phone support availability: 24 hours, 7 days a week
• Web chat support: No
• Onsite support: Yes, at extra cost
• Support levels: The service will be accessed via a standard browser so minimal impact on current infrastructure. We would not anticipate requiring technical support however we would work with any organisation to overcome any potential issues.
• Support available to third parties: Yes

Onboarding and offboarding

• Getting started: Once users have been set up we will engage with the buyer to assess what the training needs are and how best they can be fulfilled. Training options include on site / webinar / train the trainer. Full user documentation can be provided and the system has an online help facility which users can refer to at any time.
• Service documentation: Yes
• Documentation formats: PDF
• End-of-contract data extraction: Once the contract period has ended the account will be deleted so no users can log on in the future. All costings would be clearly marked on the contract which would be agreed at the outset of the arrangement and no further costs will be incurred outside of that.
• End-of-contract process: Results from the enquiry will be shown on screen and users can then print or create a .pdf of the results for reference. Should batch requests be submitted these will be provided in .csv format
• Documentation accessibility standard: WCAG 2.2 AA

Using the service

• Web browser interface: Yes
• Supported browsers:
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Firefox
  • Chrome
  • Safari
• Application to install: No
• Designed for use on mobile devices: Yes
• Differences between the mobile and desktop service: Reader View is available
• Service interface: No
• User support accessibility: WCAG 2.2 AA
• API: Yes
• What users can and can't do using the API: Equifax Gateway, our XML link, is the interface that allows clients to integrate Equifax into their systems in order to access and retrieve consumer data, characteristics, scores and other products they require from Equifax to make decisions about their customers. Equifax Gateway uses SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) and WSDL (Web Services Description Language) to provide a flexible, modern interface that can be easily integrated with clients’ tooling and systems. SOAP is a standard mechanism for data interchange between computer systems. There are many commercial and open source tools and libraries that can be leveraged to create SOAP requests and interpret SOAP responses. Clients can use the WSDL to assist in the generation of their own service to integrate into their technology.
• API documentation: Yes
• API documentation formats: PDF
• API sandbox or test environment: Yes
• Customisation available: No

Scaling

• Independence of resources: Equifax websites are widely used by a wide variety of organisations within the UK and as such have a scalability built in so there is always capacity to cope with additional demand.

Analytics

• Service usage metrics: Yes
• Metrics types: Equifax can provide usage information based on the actual volume of requests. These can show the volume of and type of reports requested and also details of the request such as the user who performed the request, time and date and details of what was input.
• Reporting types:
  • API access
  • Real-time dashboards
  • Regular reports
  • Reports on request
• Resource tagging: No
• FOCUS resource tagging: No

Resellers

• Supplier type: Not a reseller

Staff security

• Staff security clearance: Conforms to BS7858:2019
• Government security clearance: Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS)

Asset protection

• Knowledge of data storage and processing locations: Yes
• Data storage and processing locations: United Kingdom
• User control over data storage and processing locations: Yes
• Datacentre security standards: Managed by a third party
• Penetration testing frequency: At least once a year
• Penetration testing approach: In-house
• Protecting data at rest: Physical access control, complying with another standard
• Data sanitisation process: Yes
• Equipment disposal approach: A third-party destruction service
• Data sanitisation type: Explicit overwriting of storage before reallocation / Secure Erase

Data importing and exporting

• Data export approach: Results from the enquiry will be shown on screen and users can then print or create a .pdf of the results for reference. Should batch requests be submitted these will be provided in .csv format.
• Data export formats: CSV
• Data import formats: CSV

Data-in-transit protection

• Data protection between buyer and supplier networks: TLS (version 1.2 or above)
• Data protection within supplier network: TLS (version 1.2 or above)

Availability and resilience

• Guaranteed availability: Services typically run at around 99.5% availability. Buyers can liaise with Equifax at the outset of a contract to agree on SLA's and what refunds the buyer would be eligible for should the service run below the agreed SLA.
• Approach to resilience: This information can be made available on request.
• Outage reporting: A public dashboard (on the log on page) will provide information on any known upcoming changes to the products and services. In the case of outages we will communicate the issue and the progress (along with expected resolution times where available) to buyers via email.

Identity and authentication

• User authentication needed: Yes
• User authentication: Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
• Access restrictions in management interfaces and support channels: Confidential. We are happy to discuss in further detail with the Equifax Security team.
• Access restriction testing frequency: At least once a year
• Management access authentication: Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Audit information for users

• Access to user activity audit information: Users receive audit information on a regular basis
• How long user audit data is stored for: User-defined
• Access to supplier activity audit information: Users receive audit information on a regular basis
• How long supplier audit data is stored for: At least 12 months
• How long system logs are stored for: At least 12 months

Security governance

• Named board-level person responsible for service security: Yes
• Security governance certified: Yes
• Security governance standards: ISO/IEC 27001
• Information security policies and processes: "We follow ISO 27001 best practice, which ensures we comply with various regulations regarding data protection, privacy and IT governance. All employees have to read, acknowledge and sign the information security policy when they join the company. All employees are vetted using previous employment references and internal credit checks as part of the application process. We operate a mandatory induction training programme for all new starters, which includes a detailed study of the company’s information security policy, standards, practices, and the employee’s obligations under that policy framework. All employees have to sign non-disclosure / confidentiality agreements and have clearly defined terms and conditions of employment. There is also a clearly defined and communicated disciplinary process in place. Any specific security requirements over and above the general company ones are included within job descriptions.; ; "
• Software Security Code of Practice: Yes

Operational security

• Configuration and change management standard: Supplier-defined controls
• Configuration and change management approach: Confidential. We are happy to discuss in further detail with the Equifax Security team
• Vulnerability management type: Undisclosed
• Vulnerability management approach: Confidential. We are happy to discuss in further detail with the Equifax Security team
• Protective monitoring type: Undisclosed
• Protective monitoring approach: " ; Confidential. We are happy to discuss in further detail with the Equifax Security team"
• Incident management type: Undisclosed
• Incident management approach: Confidential. We are happy to discuss in further detail with the Equifax Security team
• Post-quantum cryptography secure: Yes

Secure development

• Approach to secure software development best practice: Conforms to a recognised standard, but self-assessed

Public sector networks

• Connection to public sector networks: No

Pricing

• Discount for educational organisations: No
• Free trial available: Yes
• Description of free trial: For a limited time or an agreed volume of reports Equifax would be willing to provide a trial of the full service in order for an assessment to be made by the supplier of its suitability.

Discount percentage by annual call-off contract value (excluding VAT)

• Less than £250,000: 0%
• Between £250,000 and £500,000: 0%
• Between £500,001 and £1,000,000: 0%
• Between £1,000,001 and £2,500,000: 0%
• Between £2,500,001 and £5,000,000: 0%
• Over £5,000,001: 0%

Non-mandatory Standards and certifications

• ISO/IEC 27001 certification: Yes
• Who accredited the ISO/IEC 27001: Coalfire
• ISO/IEC 27001 accreditation date: Thursday 4 October 2018
• What the ISO/IEC 27001 doesn’t cover: None
• ISO 28000:2022 certification: No
• ISO 9001 certification: No
• Quality management systems (QMS): Yes
• CSA STAR certification: No
• PCI certification: Yes
• Who accredited the PCI DSS certification: Coalfire
• PCI DSS accreditation date: Monday 8 July 2024
• What the PCI DSS doesn’t cover: N/a
• Cyber essentials: Yes
• Please provide your Cyber Essentials Certificate Number: 970ac31f-1a84-43e6-a312-7a3dce1b7db2
• Cyber essentials plus: Yes
• Please provide your Cyber Essentials Plus Certificate Number: Ee6a6615-4795-4c63-b298-4a716bb696af
• Other security certifications: No

Social value

• Section B - Commitment for Future: Delivery:

  • Mission: Kick start economic growth. To secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 - with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.

    Policy Outcome 1: Fair work: That offers fair wages and good working conditions. Help people get a job, stay in work, and progress in their careers, with good employment opportunities across the country. Notes: Where there is a large proportion of labour costs in the contract, commercial teams should consider MAC in Outcome 1 as a priority

    • New or retained jobs on the contract workforce in the relevant area that meet the criteria set out in MAC 1b, 1c and 1d
    • New apprenticeships on the contract workforce in the relevant area that meet the criteria set out in MAC 1b
    • Providing opportunities for, and measuring and monitoring of, staff workforce conditions over time, including employee engagement, involvement in decision-making and satisfaction and adapting to any changes in the results, with clear processes for acting on issues identified
    • Plans to engage the contract workforce in deciding the most important workplace issues to address
    • Employment contracts that reflect actual hours worked; steps taken to ensure employees understand their contracts and have the ability to review and adjust them if actual hours regularly exceed contracted hours
    • Activities that support an environment where staff are educated about, and feel empowered to, address their physical wellbeing
    • Activities that support an environment where staff are educated about and feel empowered to report and address bullying and harassment
    • Activities to cascade good practice on fair working conditions throughout the supply chain
    • Offer a pay and leave entitlement to all eligible staff who become kinship carers, ideally equivalent to statutory adoption pay and leave
    • Payment of more than the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage (as appropriate) to the contract workforce
    • Entitlement to sick pay for the contract workforce, with provision in place for any staff who do not meet the earnings threshold for statutory sick pay, payment of sick pay from day one of absence and payment of staff on the contract workforce who are off sick a replacement income of 100% of their usual earnings for as long as possible
    • Plans for an appropriate income replacement policy for staff who are required to spend time away from work to care for a sick dependent or close relative
    • Understanding of in-work progression issues affecting the market, industry or sector relevant to the contract, and in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key sub-contractors
    • Measures to support in-work progression to help people in the contract workforce, to move into higher paid work by developing new skills relevant to the contract
    • Support for the contract workforce by providing career advice, and providing opportunities for staff working on the contract with in-work progression career development into known skills shortages or high growth areas
    • Support for educational attainment relevant to the contract, including training schemes that address skills gaps and result in recognised qualifications
    • Volunteering opportunities for staff
    • Understanding of the modern slavery risks and issues affecting the market, industry, sector or country (of origin or of source) relevant to the contract, and the workforce in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key subcontractors
    • Outline policies and practices to be applied to or put in place for the contract to mitigate and manage modern slavery risks, including: Pre-employment checks, recruitment practices. Workplace conditions, safeguarding plans and processes in place and regular monitoring with relevant groups considered, which may include sampling
    • How these flow down the supply chain and are monitored Illustrative examples include reporting, site visits, audits, etc.
    • How to ensure business decisions re: price/cost, short lead times, payment timescales do not create modern slavery risks in the supply chain

  • Mission: Kick start economic growth. To secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 - with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.

    Policy Outcome 2: Skills for growth: Supporting growth sectors and addressing skills gaps.

    • Understanding of employment and relevant skills issues, and of the education and training issues relating to the contract. Illustrative examples: demographics, skills shortages, new opportunities in high growth sectors, geographic/local community and skills/employment challenges
    • Support for educational attainment relevant to the contract, including training schemes that address skills gaps and result in recognised qualifications
    • Activities to support relevant sector related skills growth and sustainability in the contract workforce. Illustrative examples: careers talks, curriculum support, literacy support, safety talks and volunteering
    • Delivery of apprenticeships, supported internships and T Level industry placement opportunities (Level 2, 3 and 4+) in relation to the contract

  • Mission: Kick start economic growth. To secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 - with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.

    Policy Outcome 3: Resilient, innovative and flexible supply chains: Support economic growth through enabling resilient businesses, opportunities for small businesses and voluntary, community and social enterprises

    • Understanding of the types of businesses in the market and the level of participation by new businesses, entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMEs, VCSEs and mutuals
    • Structuring of the supply chain selection process to ensure fairness (e.g. anti-corruption) and encourages participation by a diverse range of businesses, including with regard to new businesses, entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMEs, VCSEs and mutual
    • Understanding of local demographics, needs and opportunities for the co-design of the goods, services and works to be delivered under the contract
    • Methods for engaging with different parts of the community (including the education system and charities representing the community) and how communities come together to inform decisions, strategy and projects to leave a positive legacy for future generations
    • Measures to involve local stakeholders and/or users in design (e.g. in the design of services, systems, products or buildings)
    • Plans for positive actions with community groups.
    • Measures to engage users and communities and build relationships to increase community integration build trust and influence how the contract is delivered
    • Plans to respond flexibly and adapt approaches to community engagement and initiatives
    • Support for community-led initiatives relevant to the contract. Illustrative examples: improving transport links; reducing loneliness; helping with English language proficiency; and facilitating social mixing among people with different backgrounds

  • Mission: Make Britain a clean energy superpower: To cut bills, create jobs and deliver security with cheaper, zero-carbon electricity by 2030, accelerating to net zero

    Policy Outcome 4: Sustainable procurement practices: Reducing carbon footprints, minimising waste, and promoting the use of clean energy and green technologies.

    • Understanding of opportunities for additional environmental benefits delivery in the performance of the contract, including working towards net zero carbon emissions and use of clean energy and green technologies
    • Collaborative ways of working with the supply chain to deliver additional environmental benefits in the performance of the contract, including working towards net zero carbon emissions and use of clean energy and green technologies
    • Delivery of additional environmental benefits through the performance of the contract, including working towards net zero carbon emissions and use of clean energy and green technologies
    • Understanding of how to influence staff, suppliers, customers, communities and/or any other appropriate stakeholders through the delivery of the contract to support climate and nature protection and improvement
    • Activities to reconnect people with the environment and increase awareness of ways to protect and enhance it

  • Mission: Break down barriers to opportunity: By reforming our childcare and education systems, to make sure there is no class ceiling on the ambitions of young people in Britain

    Policy Outcome 6: Employment and training: For those who face barriers to employment

    • Understanding of employment and skills issues, and of the skills and employment shortages of high growth sectors relating to the contract
    • Understanding of the issues affecting the representation of disabled people in the workforce in the market, industry or sector relevant to the contract, and in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key sub-contractors
    • Collection of the views and expertise of disabled people and their representative organisations on successfully supporting disabled employees or applicants
    • Inclusive and accessible recruitment practices, and retention-focused activities, including those provided in the Guide for line managers on recruiting, managing and developing people with a disability or health condition
    • Offering a range of quality opportunities with routes of progression if appropriate, e.g. T Level industry placements, students supported into higher level apprenticeships.
    • Working conditions which promote an inclusive working environment and promote retention and progression
    • Other measures to provide equality of opportunity for disabled people and those with health conditions into employment, including becoming a Disability Confident employer and inclusion of supported businesses in the contract supply chain

  • Mission: Break down barriers to opportunity: By reforming our childcare and education systems, to make sure there is no class ceiling on the ambitions of young people in Britain

    Policy Outcome 7: Creating a pipeline of opportunities: For the contract workforce, reducing barriers to entry for under-represented groups.

    • Other measures to offer development opportunities for the target cohort(s) in the contract workforce
    • Advertising, promotional and outreach activities designed to raise awareness of the offer to reach the target cohort
    • Creation of outreach activities to create a pipeline of employees for the future contract delivery
    • Content of the outreach activity is designed to suit the target cohort
    • Advertising, promotional and outreach activities designed to raise awareness of the offer to reach the target cohort

  • Mission: Build an NHS fit for the future: That is there when people need it; with fewer lives lost to the biggest killers; in a fairer Britain, where everyone lives well for longer.

    Policy Outcome 8: Increasing productivity through physical and mental wellbeing: In the supply chain and communities in the relevant area.

    • Understanding of issues relating to health and wellbeing, including physical and mental health, in the contract workforce
    • Understanding barriers to access to health and social care services or employment opportunities e.g. digital inclusion
    • Actions to invest in the physical and mental health and wellbeing of the contract workforce

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Service definition document

  PDF

• Terms and conditions

  PDF

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at bid.team@equifax.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.