DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AN ONLINE BANK VERIFICATION (BVN) SYSTEM

ABSTRACT
The Bank Verification Number (BVN) became imperative following the increasing incidence of compromise on conventional security systems such as password and Personal Identification Number (PIN) of customers. The BVN involves identifying an individual based on physiological or behavioral attributes, such as fingerprint, signatures and others. The customers unique BVN is accepted as a means of identification across all banks system. On the basis of introducing the concepts of Bank Verification Number system, this Research illustrates the role that the BVN plays in Nigerian banks. This research also analyses the existing mode of operation in the banking industry including the need to implement our newly designed Online Bank Verification Number system using PHP as the programming language. The motivation for the choice of this topic is as a result of being a fraud victim and by developing an advanced BVN system, it will help cut down fraud activities in Bank. The methodology adopted for this research include the OOADM, the system development methodology and also method of data collection which helped in all areas of this research.Finally, the designed system was implemented and tested and was very successful.

Background of the Study
Collins, (2014) stated that customers were faced with problem of insecurities on their accounts which made the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on February, 2014 to initiate a compulsory bank verification number exercise which provides account holders with a unique number that enables the account holder to have a single identity in the banking system aimed at protecting bank customers from identity theft and other financial/economic crimes emanating in the banking sector of Nigeria.Collins, (2014).

The Bank Verification Number (BVN) is a bold step taken by the Central Bank of Nigeria, to strengthen security in the banking sector of Nigeria. One beauty of the BVN is that transactions will be safer once it is implemented fully. The BVN exercise aims at ensuring that bank transactions are safer and fraudulent transactions are minimized, if not totally eliminated. The campaign is on, but the public may not realize its importance until it closes in in the new extension deadline, October 2015. Eteyen, (2015).

BVN uses biometric technology to register customers in the banking sector. It records these physical features which are unique to individuals – fingerprints and the face. The record would be used to identify the person afterwards. Once a person’s biometrics have been recorded, and BVN issued the account would be accessed through BVN. The major objectives of the initiative are to protect bank customers, reduce fraud and strengthen the Nigerian banking system. Eteyen, (2015)

Biometric enrolment is helpful to people who cannot read and write. Their finger prints and pictures would serve the same purpose as signatures. Multiple account holders would be covered with a single registration in any of the banks where they have accounts.Eteyen, (2015).
BVN will help the banking system reduce situations where loan defaulters, for instance, move from one bank to the other and the banks extend new credits to them, without knowing their history. Banks would be able to track transactions across all banks in Nigeria with more ease. Collins, (2014)

1.2 Statement of the Problem
Over the years, the banking sector of Nigeria has played the role of the intermediate body in regards to ensuring the smooth running of the economy and coordination other sectors involved in the circular flow of income in the Nigerian economy. However, growth in this sector has been reduced due to high cases of economic and financial crimes. Adam, (2007). Fraud and money laundering have had adverse impacts on our national development and particularly on the financial system. They have caused damage to the reputation of the image of the country, loss of FDI, poor infrastructural devel¬opment, dwindling confidence and distortions in our political as well as financial systems, among other things.

In view of these crises crimes perpetuated by cyber thieves, the mandatory bank verification number exercise embarked by various banks nationwide has also caused congestions in banking halls. Although the exercise commenced since February, 2014, the fire brigade approach of most Nigerians has warranted most bank halls to be filled to its maximum capacity. Queues in some banks even extended outside the banking hall. This development has caused confusion in some banking halls as other transactions are placed on hold due to inadequate staff to attend to clients or delayed indefinitely.