Date: For Parliament Sitting on 12 February 2026

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Miss Rachel Ong, Tanjong Pagar GRC

Question

Miss Rachel Ong: To ask the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance whether the Government will work with digital-only banks to provide alternative biometric or non-facial verification options for Singpass, to ensure accessibility for medically vulnerable users who rely on nasal ventilation masks or other medical equipment that obstructs facial recognition. 

Answer by Mr Gan Kim Yong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, and Chairman of MAS:

1. MAS requires banks to implement multifactor authentication for online banking security. For banks that use Singpass face verification (SFV) as one of the authentication factors, MAS expects them to offer alternative verification methods for customers who are unable to use facial recognition technology, including those with medical conditions.

 2. Customers of banks, including digital-only banks, who encounter face verification issues can contact their bank’s customer service team for assistance.

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