BSP orders banks to go beyond OTPs
MANILA, Philippines — The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has ordered banks to supplement one-time pins (OTPs) with more secure authentication methods to curb cybercrimes like scams and fraud. While the ultimate goal is still to eventually shift away from OTPs, Deputy Governor Elmore Capule said the BSP was cognizant of the fact that such an undertaking can be very expensive for financial institutions. Thus, Capule explained that the central bank wants regulated entities to limit the use of interceptable authentication mechanisms like OTPs, while adopting more safety measures for consumers. READ: BSP eyes shift away from OTPs to fight fraud “Because we have to realize that all of these things are very, very expensive. That’s the reality. So, we are giving them (financial institutions) sufficient time,” he told reporters in a press chat. “But, at the same time, we realize that if they will not adapt to this, then we cannot really solve these scamming, these frauds. So, it’s a calibrated approach,” he added. BSP Circular No. 1213 ordered banks to limit the use of authentication mechanisms that can be shared with, or intercepted by, third parties unrelated to the transaction. The central bank said there was an increasing prevalence of social engineering attacks aimed at obtaining the login credentials of victims. READ: ‘Digital hygiene’ cuts probability of being scammed The BSP said regulated entities, especially those engaged in “complex” digital products and services, must go beyond OTPs and adopt additional methods like biometric authentication, behavioral biometrics and password-less authentication such as hardware tokens and cryptographic keys. As it is, the Philippines wants to follow the examples of other countries that have abandoned OTPs. Last year, major retail banks in Singapore phased out OTPs to better protect consumers against phishing. This, as technological developments and more sophisticated social engineering tactics have enabled scammers to more easily phish for customers’ OTP. The plan to eventually ditch OTPs is part of the BSP’s active effort to fight fraud via the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act. READ: Marcos signs laws to improve gov’t procurement system, curb online scams The law not only prohibits and punishes financial cybercrimes but also compels regulated entities to employ adequate risk and fraud management systems. (2025/06/13-02:30)
Additional methods
INQUIRER
- Y(/0x 24:20
- 06/13 18:24 AboitizPower P100-B bond program gets SEC approval
- 06/13 17:01 DA lifts ban on beef, poultry products from Germany, Belgium
- 06/13 17:01 DA lifts ban on beef, poultry products from Germany, Belgium
- 06/13 14:55 Edsa 2’s lessons for Sara Duterte trial from Joseph Estrada’s fall
- 06/13 11:55 Sotto: Sen. Miriam taught me that senator-judges can’t make motions
- 06/13 02:30 BSP orders banks to go beyond OTPs
- 06/13 02:24 Filinvest hosts Qatar Airways’ first Philippine office
- 06/13 00:50 Rodrigo Duterte appeals for an interim release from ICC detention
- 06/12 21:56 Marcos offers condolences to India over deadly plane crash
- 06/12 15:34 Chief justice on Independence day: Combat corruption, apathy
- 06/12 14:49 Christian Monsod: Senate decision to remand ‘railroading a wrong power’
- 06/12 13:36 Taiwan’s TPEx tapped to help Philippine SMEs, bond market grow
- 06/12 13:08 Strong, credible voices reverberate vs ‘delay’ in Sara Duterte trial
- 06/12 10:33 Pulong Duterte celebrates independence but dad's detention leaves pain
- 06/12 07:30 Agriculture group urges Marcos to block P200 daily wage hike
- 06/12 06:00 Marcos: Value the nation’s heritage by protecting rights, freedoms
- 06/12 05:44 House, Senate in stalemate over proposed pay hike
- 06/12 05:42 PH removed from EU’s ‘high risk’ dirty money list
- 06/12 02:32 Legislated wage hikes to harm economy, hurt poor Filipinos - economic team
- 06/11 16:29 Solon raises alarm over ASF vaccines for alleged mutation risks
- 06/11 16:24 House to seek clarity on Senate’s remand before receiving case
- 06/11 15:37 No court jurisdiction lost in Sara Duterte impeachment case - Escudero
- 06/11 15:05 Protesters rally in numbers at Senate over Duterte trial delay
- 06/11 13:29 Big business group 'deeply concerned' over stalled Sara Duterte impeachment trial
- 06/11 13:02 Economic team warns of ‘dangerous repercussions’ of P200 wage hike
- 06/11 11:07 Philippines exits EU ‘high-risk’ dirty money list
- 06/11 09:05 Philippine agricultural trade deficit narrows in April
- 06/11 02:28 BSP: FDIs extended slump in March
- 06/10 13:01 41 Chinese vessels seen in various parts of West Philippine Sea in May
- 06/09 14:57 PCG to assess damage caused by grounded Chinese ship off Pag-asa island
- 06/09 12:19 Impeachment process has ‘constitutional infirmities’ – Sara Duterte team
- 06/09 11:36 Senate minority to initiate Sara Duterte impeachment trial this Monday
- 06/09 09:51 F-16 maker sees US making formal offer to PH for fighter jets
- 06/09 05:30 FDA adds 10 more drugs to VAT-free medications
- 06/09 02:09 Philippine market tagged best in SE Asia on slowing inflation
- 06/09 02:07 US agri exports seen growing as Philippines' middle class expands
- 06/09 00:11 South Korea seen to seek deeper security cooperation with PH
- 06/08 02:12 AI is unlocking human potential in new ways
- 06/06 15:23 PH-Japan reciprocal access agreement gets House of Councillors' OK
- 06/06 14:11 ICC prosecutors submit 7th batch of evidence vs Rodrigo Duterte
- 06/06 13:31 Prosecution to present impeachment articles no matter what – Zamora
- 06/06 09:43 Joblessness in the Philippines worsens in April
- 06/06 02:28 Japan debt watcher keeps Philippines' ‘A’ rating
- 06/05 09:16 Inflation cools to 1.3% in May, slowest pace in nearly 6 years
- 06/05 04:36 Reusing plastic ‘a win for everyone’
- 06/05 04:34 Wind power drives Camarines Sur’s energy shift
- 06/05 04:32 In Palawan, a resilient system of seaweed farming
- 06/05 02:28 Philippines may miss growth goal this 2025 – OECD
- 06/04 14:14 Torre pushes for continuing education for police officers
- 06/04 13:25 DA extends issuance of fish import permit till June
- 06/04 12:19 PNP sets 5-minute police response time in a pilot test for Metro Manila
- 06/04 05:55 Senate pressed to fulfill mandate, hold Sara Duterte trial
- 06/04 05:00 DOH seeks emergency declaration on HIV surge
- 06/04 04:55 Marcos lauds upgrades at Naia Terminal 3
- 06/04 02:08 Gov’t debt hit fresh high of P16.75T in April
- 06/04 02:05 BSP enables banks to freeze funds
- 06/04 00:03 DMW to help OFW who had in-flight miscarriage aboard S. Korean plane
- 06/03 16:30 Castro on delayed impeachment trial: Is Senate taking revenge on House?
- 06/03 11:59 Teodoro calls Chinese officer’s proxy war question ‘propaganda’
- 06/03 09:13 HIV cases in PH surge 500%, prompting DOH call for health emergency
- 06/03 05:50 Escudero: Sara Duterte trial delay not tied to Senate power play
- 06/03 05:00 PH, EU to begin dialogue on defense, security issues
- 06/03 02:15 DA okays meat exports from Taiwan, Thailand
- 06/03 02:14 Philippine factory activity cooled in May as US trade war bit
- 06/03 02:10 DTI revisits P1.75-T investment target for 2025
- 06/03 02:09 BSP rate cuts in June and August likely on the table, says Deutsche Bank
- 06/03 02:08 Foreign airlines mull over ‘terminal enhancement’ fee
- 06/02 14:05 Escudero: No Marcos order to delay Sara Duterte impeachment trial
- 06/02 05:42 DOH laments increase in vaping among youth
- 06/02 05:15 AFP: China paper twisting narratives
- 06/02 05:15 South Korea eyes expanded arms deals with PH
- 06/02 05:05 UP study finds method that can detect breast cancer early
- 06/02 02:10 Gov’t raised P390B in borrowings in April
- 06/02 02:09 Poll: Inflation slowed in May
- 06/02 02:04 Razon challenges tycoons’ energy play
- 06/01 23:02 Macalintal: ‘Can impeachment case be carried over to next Congress?’
- 06/01 16:57 Russian vlogger to serve possible 18 months in PH jail – Remulla
- 05/30 13:56 Timor-Leste set conditions before deporting Teves, says Santiago
- 05/30 12:43 China Coast Guard stops shadowing PH civilian ship in West PH Sea
- 05/30 11:52 Teves now at NBI detention facility in New Bilibid Prison
- 05/30 08:00 First Gen calls for price cap review to attract green energy investors
- 05/30 05:44 Surnames of ‘senators’ also crop up in probe of Sara Duterte funds
- 05/30 02:30 Marcos admin drops plan to sell defense bonds
- 05/30 02:22 Filipino firms spending more on cybersecurity
- 05/29 23:41 PH maintains activities in Pag-asa Island, Pag-asa Cays lawful
- 05/29 16:21 Marcos to meet EU executive during visit to PH on June 2
- 05/29 15:42 West Philippine Sea Atin Ito mission: Crewman recalls first sight of Chinese threat
- 05/29 15:35 Philippines plans to improve livestock, poultry import rules
- 05/29 13:54 Teves turned over to PH authorities, departs Timor Leste for Manila
- 05/29 11:23 China assault on Malaysia sovereignty draws parallels to PH ordeal
- 05/29 02:28 Bangko Sentral orders stricter client due diligence
- 05/29 02:16 Philippine insurance sector to outpace global growth
- 05/26 11:20 Marcos calls for legally binding South China Sea Code of Conduct