KYC for thin-file customers: a practical approach
APIZONE
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·updated 8 Sep 2026 ·
1 min read
Not everyone has a passport and a credit history. Verifying customers with limited documentation without excluding them takes a layered plan.
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Start with what almost everyone has
A mobile number, an Aadhaar reference, and often a PAN or voter ID. Verify the PAN if present; check Aadhaar-linked consistency; use the voter ID for address where the PAN is absent.
Layer supporting checks
Where a single document is weak, combine two. A voter ID plus a verified bank account in the same name is a reasonable identity assertion for a low-risk product, even without a premium ID.
Match the check to the risk
A prepaid wallet with a low limit does not need the same assurance as an unsecured loan. Define tiers so thin-file customers can access basic products immediately and step up as they add verified data.