Company
Date Published
Author
Michael Hughes
Word count
574
Language
English
Hacker News points
None

Summary

Duplicate invoice financing, a form of trade finance fraud, poses significant challenges in the banking industry, where businesses might take the same purchase order to multiple banks for financing due to the paper-based nature of the process and limited technological solutions. Current systems allow banks to make rudimentary checks, but regulations often prevent deeper inquiries, especially across borders, complicating efforts to identify and mitigate these fraudulent practices. Financial institutions face the dilemma of protecting relationships with longstanding customers while needing to verify invoice authenticity with other banks. Duality offers a solution by utilizing privacy-enhancing technologies that allow banks to collaborate without exposing sensitive information or violating regulations like GDPR, as data remains encrypted and does not leave the data center. This approach not only meets regulatory compliance requirements but also provides a secure way for banks to share insights and reduce the risks associated with duplicate trade finance. While initial concerns about the effectiveness and regulatory compliance of such technology existed, it is now recognized by technology and security leaders in large financial institutions as a valid method for protecting data while facilitating necessary collaboration.