Proof of addressPoA

Confirming where someone actually lives.

A bank might ask a new customer for a recent utility bill or bank statement that shows their name and home address, or it might check the address against official records instead.

Validation of a residential address against utility, bank, or government records.

Proof of address can come from two kinds of source:

• Documents, such as a utility bill, bank statement, government letter, or tenancy agreement. The service checks that the document is genuine, recent, and matches the applicant's name and address.
• Records, such as credit bureau or government address data, which the service queries without asking for a document.

A document-based check typically follows these steps:

1. The applicant uploads a photo or file of the document.
2. The service extracts the name, address, and date, and checks the document for tampering.
3. The service compares the extracted details with the applicant's other information.
4. A match passes. A mismatch or an old document triggers a request for another proof.

Proof of address sits next to terms that are easy to mix up:

• Identity verification (IDV) proves who a person is, while proof of address proves where they live.
• Know your customer (KYC) is the legal duty to know customers, and proof of address is one of the details many programs collect.
• Non-document verification matches details against records without capturing a document, and it can confirm an address that way.

For more, see What Is a Proof of Address and How to Get One?