Selfies have taken the world by storm. If you haven’t taken one, you’ve probably been in one, and if you don’t know what it means, where have you been?
‘Selfie’ is the term used for a self-portrait shot taken with a camera, most commonly a smartphone. The word is even in the Oxford dictionary and was Word of the Year in 2013, so you know it’s a big deal!
The global trend has seen people capturing snaps of themselves with famous people, celebrities taking selfies with each other at star-studded events, daredevils hanging off buildings to get super cool shots, and there’s also a specially designed selfie stick to help you take the perfect picture.
It seems people will really do anything, no matter how extreme to get the greatest selfie, so what next? Imagine paying a visit to your bank and being able to set up a business account by using a selfie.
That’s exactly what HSBC plans to do in an attempt to simplify its application process for its business customers, and it could be coming to Devon and Cornwall branches very soon.
How will it work? Customers will be invited to provide a self-portrait photo on their phone, which will then be verified using facial recognition before allowing them to use their account. They will also need to confirm their ID with a passport or driving licence photo.
The aim of the selfie process is to save customers ‘time and money’ and allow HSBC to open accounts quicker.
So if you haven’t joined the selfie-bandwagon yet, you may want to practise before setting up a business account with your local HSBC!
