• Home
• Banks

Maouia Saghli, Managing Director and Executive Board Member of Attijariwafa Bank Egypt, said digital transformation and artificial intelligence have become strategic priorities for countries amid rapid technological developments and changing social behaviors.

He noted that digital identity is a fundamental pillar in building a modern digital economy and advancing financial and banking services.

Saghli explained that Generation Z and Generation Alpha have grown up in an increasingly digital environment, where technology and artificial intelligence are part of everyday life. This has shaped their expectations, with growing demand for services that are immediate, accessible, user-friendly and integrated.

He added that these changes go beyond consumer behavior, reshaping relationships between citizens and institutions, individuals and governments, and customers and service providers, including banks. Digital identity, he said, is no longer simply a way to verify identity electronically; it is becoming a secure and trusted gateway to government, financial and commercial services.

He also described the launch of “Haweyti” as a step toward building an integrated digital services ecosystem that places citizens at the center of Egypt’s digital transformation.

Digital Financial Identity Makes Banking More Accessible

Saghli said digital financial identity enables banks to simplify customer identification and electronic verification through electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) procedures.

This can facilitate remote account opening, customer data updates and access to banking services without requiring customers to visit branches or contact customer service centers.

He added that, when implemented in accordance with applicable regulatory and security requirements, these solutions go beyond digitizing traditional procedures. They can help redesign banking services to make them faster, more efficient and more flexible in response to customer needs and developments across the financial sector.

Data Protection and Trust Are Essential to Digital Banking

Addressing the impact on customer experience, Saghli emphasized that trust is a central requirement for the development of digital banking, particularly as concerns over online fraud continue to discourage some customers from using digital applications and platforms.

He noted that customers increasingly compare their banking experiences with the digital services they use every day and the experiences offered by international banks. This has raised expectations for simple, fast and secure services without complicated procedures or branch visits.

Digital financial identity can support a smoother and more integrated banking experience by reducing repeated identity verification, improving access to services and enabling solutions that better match individual customer needs.

Saghli stressed that digital identity involves highly sensitive personal information. Protecting data, safeguarding privacy, securing digital transactions and strengthening cybersecurity are therefore essential to building trust among customers and institutions.

Digital Identity Can Expand Financial Inclusion

According to Saghli, one of the key economic benefits of digital financial identity is its potential to extend financial services to new customer segments that have had limited access to traditional banking.

These include young people, small and medium-sized business owners, women, and residents of areas with limited banking coverage, as well as individuals who face difficulties reaching branches or completing conventional procedures.

He explained that simplifying banking processes and offering financial products tailored to different customer needs can broaden access to financial services. However, the objective should go beyond opening bank accounts to encouraging meaningful and sustained use of financial products, supporting the integration of more people into the formal economy.

Institutional Integration Increases the Value of Digital Identity

Saghli said the full value of digital identity will not be achieved through its use in a single application or service. Its impact depends on its ability to connect institutions and sectors while enabling secure and reliable data exchange and identity verification.

He added that achieving this requires a shift from separate digital channels toward an integrated ecosystem that connects services and makes it easier for citizens to access offerings across different institutions.

Saghli concluded that digital identity is a foundational step toward a new digital future for Egypt, where identity supports trust, technology enables access and innovation drives growth. He expressed hope that the initiative would contribute to strengthening Egypt’s position as a leading regional hub for digital transformation.