Eftpos in June rolled out its new digital identity service as a standalone fintech subsidiary.

The new venture, dubbed connect ID and developed in conjunction with SecureKey, has the aim of making it easier for Australians to share, store and receive personal identity information online.

ConnectID acts as ‘broker’ between organisations that securely hold identity data on behalf of their customers, and merchants or government departments that need to verify who they are dealing with or receive identity information that they can trust.

The service is currently operating trials with identity providers such as Australia Post, Yoti and several State Governments to resolve issues around age verification for online liquor sales, police checks and licence validations for heavy equipment operators on mining sites.

Eftpos CEO Stephen Benton says the accreditation under the Australian Government’s Trusted Digital Identity Framework (TDIF) opens the door for eftpos to work more closely with the Australian Government’s Digital Transformation Agency (DTA). Collaboration opportunities include exploring how to make it easier for more Australians to access both private and Government services securely online.

“TDIF accreditation is a big step forward for eftpos and industry to help bring the benefits of digital identity to more sectors of the economy," says Benton. “With connectID, eftpos drew on its experience operating the national eftpos network in the development of an exchange to make it easier for Australians to share, store and receive trusted personal identity information online, giving them more confidence and control.”