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To add to this, some people might be left out because companies are not financially incentivised to verify them.

In Germany, immigrants struggle to open a bank account because the banks require documents that they don't have (and that they can hardly get with a bank account). Russian, Iranian and Syrian citizens have a particularly hard time finding a bank that works for them. The most common video document verification system does not support some Indian passports, among others.

To banks, leaving these people out is a rational business decision. The same thing will happen to those deemed too risky or too much hassle by the internet's gatekeepers, but at a much bigger scale.

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extraduder_ire 5 days ago | parent | next [-]

What is it about some Indian passports? Do they need to have a biometric chip to work? (just checked, and those were introduced in 2024)

Banks worldwide regularly refuse service to people who have US citizenship, so I don't think you're far off on that point.

	▲	nicbou 5 days ago \| parent [-]
		If I remember correctly there are a dozen variants, and most of them lack a basic feature. I think it's either a signature, latin letters or biometric features. US citizens also had issues due to FATCA requirements although it seems to have improved since they were introduced.

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BlueTemplar 5 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Is banking not deemed a right in Germany ? Aren't there "banks of last resort" ? Or does that right somehow not extend to non-EU refugees ?

	▲	nicbou 5 days ago \| parent [-]
		Yes, sort of. You can always force it, but it takes time, resources and knowledge that recent immigrants lack. Usually they get funneled towards more immigrant-friendly banks.