Cambodia Investment Review
ABA Bank is accelerating its push into biometric security with FacePass Secure, the facial recognition feature on ABA Mobile that is now being expanded to protect high-value transactions and sensitive account activities. First launched in 2024, the technology has quickly become central to ABA’s digital security strategy, with more than 90% of users — activating the feature.
The move comes amid a rapid nationwide transition toward mobile banking and QR-based payments, where customer expectations for both convenience and safety are rising in parallel. ABA Bank was the first financial institution in Cambodia to integrate live facial recognition directly into a banking app, marking a competitive shift toward multilayered security across the sector.
Expansion To High-Value And Sensitive Transactions
FacePass Secure originally offered an additional authentication layer for logins. ABA has since expanded it significantly, applying mandatory live facial verification for high-value transfers, personal information changes, eKYC during Instant Account Opening, and reactivation of ABA Mobile on new devices.
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The feature ensures that only the legitimate ABA account owner can complete these actions, even if someone else gains access to the user’s phone or PIN. According to the bank, the entire verification process averages almost instantly, allowing stricter security without slowing down the user experience.
Zokhir Rasulov, Chief Digital Officer of ABA Bank, said the rollout reflects the bank’s focus on strengthening digital security without compromising user experience.
“FacePass Secure represents a significant leap forward in mobile banking security and user experience. It demonstrates ABA Bank’s commitment to safeguarding customers’ financial information while prioritizing convenience. For example, if you transfer an amount larger than your preset limit, FacePass will require live facial verification — meaning no one, not even someone who knows your PIN, can complete the transaction without your presence.”
Designed For All Modern Smartphones
ABA Bank stresses that FacePass is different from Apple’s Face ID, which serves as a device-level biometric login. FacePass is fully app-based and works across both iOS and Android smartphones equipped with a front-facing camera capable of live facial recognition. This ensures accessibility across Cambodia’s diverse smartphone market, where a large share of users rely on non-Apple devices.
The bank also highlights privacy protections. Facial data is encrypted and stored securely on ABA Bank servers in Cambodia, compliant with international information security standards. No biometric information is shared with third parties or transferred outside the country.
With online banking fraud and account takeover risks growing across Southeast Asia, ABA positions FacePass Secure as a critical tool to help customers transact confidently. The bank says it will continue strengthening biometric layers as digital threats evolve and as user expectations shift toward security measures that require minimal friction.
User Confidence And Digital Banking Momentum
Early user feedback indicates strong confidence in the feature, particularly among customers who regularly make time-sensitive or large-value payments via mobile banking. ABA reports that small business owners and young professionals are among the most active adopters, viewing the added identity check as protection rather than inconvenience.
The rapid uptake of FacePass reflects broader momentum in Cambodia’s mobile payments ecosystem, where KHQR transactions and app-based banking are now central to everyday financial activity. As more users rely on mobile as their primary access point to financial services, biometric authentication is expected to become an industry norm.
Banks across the region are increasingly evaluating biometric verification for both login and transaction approval, and ABA’s early move into the space may influence sector-wide upgrades in the coming years.
ABA Bank is encouraging all customers to activate FacePass Secure through the app settings to ensure the highest level of account protection and a smoother transaction experience.
