Importance

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Abstract

A method and system for certificating and authenticating an identity of a customer of a financial institution using digital certificates is provided. The customer and the financial institution communicate via a communications medium. The financial institution receives a digital registration request from the customer and verifies the identity of the customer by reconciling identification data in the digital registration request with identification data in a customer data structure at the financial institution. Responsive to verifying the identity of the customer, the financial institution generates a digital certificate and sends the digital certificate to the customer. When the customer desires access to an on-line application at the financial institution, the customer sends the previously issued digital certificate to the financial institution via the communications link. The financial institution authenticates the digital certificate and grants on-line application access based upon the authenticated digital certificate. The digital certificate may be suspended without being revoked by associatively storing certificate-state information with the distinguished name of the certificate owner, thereby providing a mechanism for suspending and resuming access privileges of the customer.

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First Claim