We know your time is important. We don't want you to spend it printing, signing and scanning documents every time you send us an application. DocuSign sets up an electronic signature you can use instead.
Financial institutions around the world have adopted electronic signature services for enhanced security, fraud protection, speed and convenience. Clients have been quick to embrace the added security and convenience of the paperless service and accept that electronic signatures are a safer alternative to traditional signing.
We're happy to say we can now accept new business applications via DocuSign and other electronic signature services.
Why use an electronic signature service?
It saves you time, it’s more accurate, more secure and more visible.
Why bother printing, signing and scanning or posting physical documents when everyone who needs to can sign in minutes? That’s becoming increasingly important as more and more people adopt a remote working environment.
All the documentation and signatures are online, you can see who has signed and who has yet to sign. Plus a full audit trail from start to finish is included by way of a Certification of Completion.
It’s a great way to make sure that all the information needed is included in the form – incomplete fields are highlighted during the process. So fewer documents end up being returned because of missing or incorrect information.
As well as DocuSign, we accept signatures from Nitro, HelloSign, PandaDoc, SignNow, Adobe Sign and more, provided they meet the Simple Electronic Signature (SES) standard as a minimum.
Electronic signatures are legally binding in Ireland under the Electronic Commerce Act 2000 and the same anti-money laundering rules apply to online applications as apply to physical application forms.
Registering for DocuSign
If you don't already have an electronic signature solution, you can register and use our DocuSign service to send us applications. It's a no-cost service, and you can get started in just three easy steps:
If you already have an electronic signature service
You can use your existing electronic signature service to send us applications, provided it includes a Certificate of Completion. Send your signed documentation, including the Certificate of Completion and any AML documents we might need to
An electronic signature allows you and others to sign documents legally via digital means.
Electronic signature software providers like DocuSign make it easy by providing an interface for sending and signing documents online and recording a clear audit trail for the signatures.
Ireland has recognised electronic signatures since the Electronic Commerce Act, 2000, and now adheres to regulations set by eIDAS which were introduced 1 July 2016. For more information see the DocuSign guide on legality of electronic signatures.
We accept electronic signatures on all new business applications via Standard Life DocuSign.
We can accept electronic signatures from any platform that meets the required minimum Simple Electronic Signature (SES) security level. Instructions received with electronic signatures from software other than DocuSign must be accompanied by a Certificate of Completion to show the full audit trail of the form.
If you are using your own signature platform we can accept:
New business applications
Trade SLIP fund request
Top up requests
Request a regular withdrawal
Full and part surrender
Settle my retirement benefits
Transfer to other provider requests
Add third party authority
Transfer to another adviser
ID / proof of address certified by e-signature
Essentially, it's an authenticated signature that shows you have accepted or approved a document. SES is the official term for a signature that meets the minimum level of security specified under eIDAS Regulations – that's the minimum standard we will accept.
Absolutely, you still have the choice to use paper or digital applications depending on your and your clients' preferences.
We've outlined some of the benefits of electronic signature users above, and you might find those a helpful resource. You could also tell your clients that Ireland has recognised electronic signatures since 2000 with the introduction of the Electronic Commerce Act, and adheres to European regulations set by eIDAS. For more information, see the DocuSign guide on legality of electronic signatures.
It's an audit trail created during each signing process that provides a permanent record of each sender, signer, approver, and recipient of the form.
Ready to register?
As soon as you're registered with the platform you can start using DocuSign to send us new business applications.
The information on standardlife.ie/adviser is designed for financial advisers. It's not suitable for anyone else. If you're not a financial adviser, please go to standardlife.ie for information about the products and services we offer.
