VOTER identification cards (VIC) issued by the government can be used to verify identification at financial institutions from November 15, the Financial Intelligence Unit confirmed.
The unit said it had issued a formal policy advisory to financial institutions to allow them to rely on the VIC to verify their customers' identity when they come in to engage in any financial transactions or services.
The VIC has a unique voter registration number and contains personal details of the person such as the full name, date of birth, and the residential address.
Financial Intelligence Unit director Razim Buksh said the VIC was a reliable identification document as it was issued after verification of the voter's identity by election registration officials using supporting identification documents such as a birth certificate or passport.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said many people who previously did not have a formal identity card, now had the VIC.