Knowledge-Based Authentication (KBA): What to Know Before You Sign

What is Knowledge-Based Authentication (KBA)?

KBA, or Knowledge-Based Authentication, is a simple, layered safeguard designed to confirm your identity. This process helps ensure a secure, fraud-free experience for everyone involved in your Stavvy meeting.

How the KBA Process Works

1. Initial Verification: You will first be asked to enter some identifying details:
   • Your current address
   • Your date of birth
   • The last four digits of your U.S. Social Security number
2. The Quiz: You will then be presented with five questions that you must answer within a 2-minute time frame.

Passing the KBA

• To pass, you must answer 4 out of 5 questions correctly.
• The questions are generated from public data, which may include details spanning your entire credit and public record history.

Attempts and Next Steps

You will be given two attempts to pass the KBA quiz.

• If you fail both attempts, you are required to wait 24 hours before attempting again. This is a MISMO regulation designed to protect your identity.
• If you reach this point, your host will need to stop the current meeting and schedule a new one for you at least 24 hours later.

Important Disclosure: Who Generates the Questions?

A separate, third-party system generates the KBA questions. For your security, Stavvy does not have access to, or visibility into, the specific questions or the data used to create them. If you have trouble answering a question, your host cannot provide the correct answer.

What will Signers need to know for the KBA?

We recommend that Signers prepare for the type of questions that will be asked of them.

The KBA questions are based on information from public records and credit reports. Questions change from session to session. They often deal with geography, vehicles, and purchases. Signers can expect to be asked questions about:

1. Addresses they have been associated with
   • County, city, street name, square footage of the home 
   • ex. What number corresponds to your address on XYZ Street?
2. The color, make, and model of a car they've owned
3. Loan history, including months/years of a loan, and the company that holds it
4. Phone numbers they have been associated with
5. A few digits of their SSN
6. A recent purchase on a credit card
7. Phone numbers that belonged to them
8. People they may know
9. Previous names