Skip to content
Modulr glossary

Knowledge-Based Authentication (KBA)

Knowledge-Based Authentication (KBA) is a method of verifying an individual’s identity by asking security questions that only the legitimate user should know. It is often used in online payments as part of Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) alongside One-Time Passwords.

Applications

E-commerce:

Reduces fraud in online card payments by verifying the cardholder's identity

Banking and fintech:

Helps issuers and payment providers comply with Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) requirements.

Advantages

  • Enhanced security: Reduces unauthorised transactions by verifying that the genuine account holder is authorising the payment
  • Fraud prevention: Helps reduce chargebacks related to fraud.

Challenges

  • User Experience: Additional authentication steps can cause friction and increase checkout abandonment
  • Implementation complexity: Requires integration with card schemes and issuer systems.

Sign up to our newsletter for our latest news and insights