Mumbai, May 14: State Bank of India (SBI) is evaluating the deployment of behavioural biometrics as part of its next-generation cybersecurity framework, amid rising digital fraud risks and evolving cyber threats in the banking ecosystem.
Managing Director Ashwini Tewari said the bank is actively exploring advanced authentication technologies that leverage user behaviour patterns to strengthen fraud detection and prevent unauthorised access.
Behavioural biometrics analyses user-specific interaction data—such as typing speed, touchscreen usage, scrolling patterns, and device handling—to continuously verify identity in real time. Unlike traditional authentication methods, the technology operates passively in the background, enabling seamless yet robust security without disrupting user experience.
The move reflects a broader shift in the banking sector toward AI-driven and non-intrusive security solutions as digital transactions scale rapidly.
Tewari also pointed to a structural change in customer behaviour, with a growing preference for investment-oriented products over traditional savings instruments. He noted that banks will increasingly need to diversify beyond core deposit offerings and align with customer demand through products such as mutual funds and other market-linked instruments.
On the regulatory front, he emphasised that compliance requirements around anti-money laundering (AML) and transaction monitoring have become significantly more stringent, driven by oversight from the Reserve Bank of India and the Government of India.
Banks are now operating within tighter compliance frameworks, necessitating continuous investment in monitoring systems, risk controls, and advanced analytics to meet regulatory expectations.
Overall, SBI’s focus on behavioural biometrics highlights the sector’s pivot toward proactive, technology-led risk management, while simultaneously adapting to changing customer investment preferences and stricter compliance norms.
