Bank J. Van Breda & C° was looking to become a paperless bank and enable commercial representatives to complete transactions like opening accounts and investments without using paper. LetterGen provided an electronic signing solution using their LetterSigner application, which allows documents in PDF format to be digitally signed. Representatives can now use tablet PCs with built-in electronic identity card readers and mobile internet to have customers electronically sign documents on site, making Bank J. Van Breda & C° the first paperless bank in Belgium.

1. Business case
LetterSigner at Bank J. Van Breda & C°
The electronic identity card (eID), which has a steadily growing range of use, is now also gradually entering the world of banking.
Various large banking companies are considering expanding its usage beyond the sheer customer identity verification use.
Beginning 2009 Bank J. Van Breda & C°, a bank for entrepreneurs and liberal professions, was looking for a solution to become a paperless bank.
Their objective was to enable their commercial representatives to carry out various transactions (opening bank accounts, investments, admini-
strative transactions) without using any paper.
LetterGen came up with the ideal solution: electronic signing.
The electronic signing is carried out through our LetterSigner application.
The LetterSigner application offers all the necessary features to sign documents.
The Portable Document Format (PDF) was chosen as the document format to use with the LetterSigner. Both the “classical” manual
handwritten signature and a digital signature can be used to sign documents. It is also possible to add other manual entry fields in a document
to enter a date, or a text like “read and approved”.
The look and feel of this manual handwritten signing process equals the ceremonial aspect of the signing of the paper version. Drawing the
signature is only allowed on predefined fields on the document, the rest of the document remains unchanged.
When saving the document, the handwritten fields (signatures and text) are embedded into the PDF document, the electronic signature is
represented as a stamp and secures the document.
The signing offers you secured electronic PDF documents and the procedure helps you saving time and paper. The application provides evidence
of the signer’s authenticity with proof of the signer’s identity, document integrity and originality. When a user tries to modify the document
after it has been signed, the signature(s) will be invalidated.
This makes of Bank J. Van Breda & C°, the first paperless bank in Belgium and probably in Europe.
From November 2009, the bank sends off 200 commercial representatives, working on customer contracts, with a tablet pc with a built-in eID
reader and mobile Internet. Thanks to this reader, customers can confirm a transaction with an electronic signature.
The Bank J. van Breda & C° combines the following technologies:
- The electronic signing of documents through the electronic identity card (eID), or manually with a stylus on the tablet pc.
- Mobile Internet to allow working on the spot at the customer’s home
After the initial conversations, one can become customer without paperwork thanks to the data on his or her eID.
If one should choose so, it is possible to immediately carry out transactions online.
The customer signs electronically with his eID upon which he or she receives an email confirming the transaction.
LetterGen nv - Koloniënstraat 11 - 1000 Brussels / Groene Hofstraat 31 - 2850 Boom - Belgium
RPR Antwerpen - BTW BE 0467.046.486
www.lettergen.com - info@lettergen.com Tel +32 3 450 89 80 - Fax +32 3 450 89 89