The Credential Broker Service, part of the Canadian government's Cyber Authentication renewal initiative, will use technology from SecureKey Technologies to provide a bank-led single sign-on system as the gateway to government departments over the Web.

SecureKey's authentication service will enable consumers to access government services using their online banking login credentials or by tapping their bank-issued chip card on a USB card reader. To ensure privacy protection, users of the CBS will authenticate through their bank but neither their login credentials nor the identity of their bank will be shared with the Government of Canada. Similarly, no information about the government service being accessed by the user will be shared with the user's bank.

Mike Henry, Scotiabank SVP and head of Canadian retail payments, deposits and lending. "So many Websites require login information, making it easy to forget a few every now and then. With this service, our customers won't have to worry about remembering another user ID and password because they will be able to easily access government services online using what they already use with us."

For BMO, the service is a natural extension of the bank's investment in chip and contactless technology. Mike Kitchen, SVP, P&C products, BMO, comments: "Our participation gives customers a secure, simple, and trusted verification process for accessing government sites."