UTC, TSTT and National Payment Company sign agreement for national e-KYC platform

Above: (L to R) UTC CEO Nigel Edwards, Acting TSTT CEO Keino Cox, Dr. The Honourable Kennedy Swaratsingh, National Payment Company CEO John Outridge, and Innovative Centre General Manager Dawn Nelson at the signing of the national eKYC agreement at the International Waterfront Centre, Port of Spain.

Trinidad and Tobago took a major step toward its digital future this week as three national institutions — the Unit Trust Corporation (UTC), the National Payment and Innovation Company of Trinidad and Tobago (NPIC-TT), and the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) — have signed a landmark agreement to introduce a national electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) platform.

The signing, held at the International Waterfront Centre in Port of Spain, was witnessed by Dr Kennedy Swaratsingh, Minister of Planning and Minister in the Ministry of Finance. Also in attendance were UTC Chief Executive Officer Nigel Edwards, TSTT Acting CEO Keino Cox, National Payment Company CEO John Outridge, and Dawn Nelson, General Manager of the Innovative Centre — the technology arm of NPIC-TT.

Developed locally by the Innovative Centre and branded NOBIS, the e-KYC platform will allow citizens to verify their identity and open accounts entirely online. The system replaces the traditional in-person process with a faster, more secure, and paperless digital verification method — part of Government’s wider plan to modernise national payment systems and public service delivery.

“Our customers want convenience without sacrificing trust,” said UTC CEO Nigel Edwards after the signing. “Through this collaboration, UTC can now onboard investors completely online, while maintaining the same level of compliance and security our institution is known for.”

The NOBIS onboarding process on a smartphone.

TSTT will provide the secure telecommunications and cloud infrastructure to support the platform’s national rollout. Acting CEO Keino Cox described the project as proof that local collaboration can drive meaningful innovation.

“This is about nation-building through technology,” Cox said. “TSTT is proud to deliver the backbone that will keep the e-KYC platform resilient and secure. It shows that when local organisations come together with a shared purpose, we can deliver real transformation.”

Dawn Nelson, who heads the Innovative Centre, said the project showcases Trinidad and Tobago’s own engineering talent. “NOBIS was designed and built right here in Trinidad and Tobago,” Nelson noted. “It’s scalable, secure, and meets international standards — a strong statement of what our local teams can accomplish.”

Because the Innovative Centre developed the system on behalf of the National Payment Company, the same eKYC technology will be extended free of charge to all ministries and state agencies.

The move is expected to make it possible for citizens to apply for passports, renew driver’s licences, pay government fees, and access other public services online — all using one verified digital identity.

Dr. Swaratsingh praised the initiative as a tangible step in the country’s ongoing digital evolution.

“This agreement represents real progress,” he said. “It demonstrates how the public and private sectors can work together to modernize service delivery, strengthen transparency, and make life easier for citizens.”

The NOBIS rollout will begin with UTC’s digital onboarding later this year before expanding across government ministries and state agencies. Officials say it will form the foundation for a unified national digital identity standard — positioning Trinidad and Tobago as a leader in secure and inclusive digital services across the region.