Proof of address (PoA) verification confirms where a customer lives. It is a core part of customer due diligence and a common requirement for banks, lenders and regulated marketplaces.
Why proof of address matters
Address verification supports the customer due-diligence obligations described in the FATF recommendations, helps assess geographic risk, and prevents fraudsters from hiding behind false locations. Certivant handles it as proof of address verification.
Accepted documents
- Utility bills (electricity, water, gas) — see utility bill verification
- Bank or credit-card statements
- Government correspondence and tax letters
- Residential lease or mortgage statements
Best practices
Enforce recency
Require documents issued within the last 90 days so the address is current.
Match name and address
The name on the PoA must match the verified identity from KYC, and the address must be complete and consistent.
Detect tampering
Use automated document verification to flag edited fonts, mismatched metadata and recycled templates.
Automating proof of address
Manual PoA review is slow and error-prone. Extract the issuer, date and address automatically, validate them against your rules, and route only exceptions to a reviewer.
Frequently asked questions
How recent must a proof of address be?
Most programmes require a document dated within 3 months.
Can a screenshot count?
Generally no — screenshots are easy to alter; require the original PDF or a verified document capture.
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