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Zurich IFA Group, part of the Zurich Group, the global insurance-based provider, has announced today that it can accept UNIPASS on its extranet.
Hot on the heals of The Exchange signing, Zurich IFA Group has chosen the award winning UNIPASS service due to its benefits in terms of ease of use, increased security, and in making life easier for IFAs doing business online.
Launched in 2002 by Origo, the technology standards body for the financial services market, UNIPASS is fast becoming the industry norm for providing secure Internet access for financial advisers.
The digital certificate, which replaces the need for multiple user IDs and passwords to access provider and portal websites, has now achieved critical mass within the industry. It is currently being used by more than 12,000 IFAs and is accepted by 14 product providers and portals. With over 15,000 registered users on Zurich IFA Group's extranet, adoption numbers are expected to continue to increase.
Tony Solomon, Communications Director, at Zurich, commented: "It makes sense for us to accept UNIPASS as it is now an industry standard and IFAs are requesting that we offer it. IFAs are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of doing business online. In fact, we have already had over 650 registrations for UNIPASS, and this is just in reaction to placing the UNIPASS logo on our logon page.
"As UNIPASS removes the need for individual passwords and usernames, it reduces the account set-up time, which enables us to offer IFAs immediate access."
UNIPASS has received backing from the UK's major life companies and industry portals, now including: 1st Software, AXA, Clerical Medical, CoFunds, Friends Provident, IFAEngine, Norwich Union, Prudential, Scottish Equitable, Scottish Widows, Skandia, Standard Life, The Exchange, and Zurich IFA Group.
Paul Pettitt, managing director of Origo, commented: "The adoption of UNIPASS by Zurich IFA Group is a great endorsement and clearly demonstrates that UNIPASS is providing a valuable service for IFAs, portals and product providers. The fact that IFAs are requesting providers to offer UNIPASS on their extranets is hugely encouraging and is testament to the service."