How DealNow Verifies Your Identity and Bank Account
DealNow runs a few identity checks before any money moves. We use two trusted partners — Prove and Plaid — to make sure you are who you say you are.
Each check looks at something different — your phone, your driver's license, even a live selfie. Layered together, they form a strong verification.
How verification works on DealNow
Verification happens in three distinct steps. The first two confirm your identity from two independent angles. The third confirms you have authorized access to the bank account you want to use.
- Verify your identity through Prove (phone-centric). Enter your date of birth and mobile phone number in the verification pop-up. Prove sends a single-use text message to that number. Tap the link from the same phone to confirm you possess the device tied to that number.
- Provide additional details if requested. If Prove can't fully verify you on the first pass, you'll be asked to confirm a few more details (such as your legal name and address). Submit the form to retry.
- Verify your driver's license through Plaid Identity Verification. As part of getting your account fully verified, Plaid asks you to photograph the front and back of your government-issued ID and take a quick selfie. Plaid checks that the document is authentic, confirms your face matches the photo on the ID (liveness check), and runs the KYC screening that's required for any business that moves money.
- Connect your bank through Plaid. Once your identity is verified, click Connect bank when prompted. Plaid presents your bank's secure login screen, you authenticate with your bank directly, and Plaid returns a verified link to DealNow.
- Confirm the linked account. The last four digits of your linked account display in your DealNow account. You can link additional accounts at any time.
Quick tip: The text message link from Prove is single-use. Copying or previewing it (especially on iPhone) may invalidate it. Tap it directly from the device that received it.
What Prove does
Prove is the leading provider of Phone-Centric Identity verification, used by 19 of the top 20 U.S. banks and more than 1,500 financial brands. Rather than relying on knowledge-based questions or document scans alone, Prove verifies that the person opening an account is in real-time possession of a mobile phone tied to a verified identity.
When you enter your date of birth and phone number, Prove cross-references mobile network operator data and authoritative identity sources to confirm three things: possession (you have the phone right now), reputation (the phone has not been recently SIM-swapped or flagged for fraud), and ownership (your identity is associated with that phone number). This is what Prove calls the PRO Model, and it's how DealNow blocks synthetic identity fraud, account takeover, and SIM-swap scams without making real users jump through hoops.
If Prove can't confirm you on the first attempt, it's not a rejection. It usually means a data point (recent address change, new phone number, name spelling on file) needs a second source. The follow-up form gives you a chance to provide that.
What Plaid does
Plaid is the financial-services infrastructure used by thousands of fintech apps and most major U.S. banks. DealNow uses Plaid for two distinct purposes: a second identity check using your driver's license and facial recognition, and the bank account connection that powers funding and payouts.
Driver's license verification with facial recognition (KYC)
After Prove confirms your phone-based identity, Plaid Identity Verification (IDV) takes the second pass. You photograph the front and back of your driver's license (or another government-issued ID) and take a short selfie. Plaid checks the document for authenticity, performs a liveness check to confirm the face on the ID matches the person taking the selfie in real time, and screens against the watchlists required by U.S. KYC and anti-money-laundering regulations.
This step is the legal requirement that lets DealNow operate as a money-moving platform. KYC ("Know Your Customer") rules apply to any business that holds or transmits funds on behalf of users. Plaid's IDV product is purpose-built for these regulations and is used by the same financial institutions that run national banks.
Bank account verification and linking
The final step uses Plaid's Auth product to confirm you have authorized access to the bank account you want to use for funding deals or receiving payouts. When you click Connect bank, Plaid opens a secure window to your bank's own login. You authenticate directly with your bank — DealNow never sees your username, password, or routing numbers. Once your bank confirms you, Plaid returns an encrypted token that DealNow uses to authorize transactions. Your account number stays with your bank and Plaid; it does not sit in DealNow's systems. (For more on what we don't store, see Can I Delete My Bank Account Information?)
Why we use both providers
Each provider answers a different question. Prove answers, "Is this real person who they say they are, based on their phone?" Plaid IDV answers, "Does the government-issued ID match the live person in front of the camera, and do they clear KYC screening?" Plaid Auth answers, "Does this verified person have authorized access to this specific bank account?"
Running phone-centric identity, document-and-selfie identity, and bank-account ownership as three independent checks is what makes the platform safe for everyone on a deal — and what keeps DealNow compliant with the regulations that govern any U.S. business moving money.
If verification doesn't work the first time
If you didn't get the text message from Prove
Confirm the phone number you entered, check that you have cell signal, and look in your phone's spam or filtered messages folder. If you still don't see it after a couple of minutes, restart the verification flow and re-enter your number.
If the verification link expired or won't open
The Prove text message link is single-use. Previewing it in iMessage, copying it, or tapping it on a different device than the one that received it can invalidate it. Restart the flow and tap the new link directly from the receiving phone.
If you got the "additional information needed" pop-up
This means Prove needs a second data point to confirm your identity. Fill in every field accurately — small mismatches (a middle initial, an apartment number, an old address) are the most common cause of this step. Submit and retry.
If your driver's license photo won't accept
Plaid IDV needs a clear, in-focus image of the entire ID with all four corners visible and no glare. Move to a well-lit area, lay the ID flat against a contrasting background, and avoid shadows. Photograph both the front and the back when prompted.
If the selfie / facial recognition step fails
Plaid uses a liveness check, so a still photo of a photo won't pass. Take the selfie yourself in good lighting, look directly at the camera, remove sunglasses or hats, and follow any on-screen prompts (such as turning your head slightly).
If you still can't get verified
Email support@dealnow.com with the email on your DealNow account and a brief description of where the flow stopped — phone verification, driver's license capture, the selfie, or the bank connection. We'll review your account, identify which step is blocked, and walk you through what's needed.
Frequently asked questions
Why does DealNow need to verify my identity twice?
Phone-based identity (Prove) and document-based identity (Plaid IDV) confirm different things. Prove confirms you control a phone number tied to a real person. Plaid IDV confirms that a government-issued ID matches the live person in front of the camera and clears KYC screening. Running both is what makes synthetic-identity fraud and stolen-identity fraud almost impossible to slip past.
Why do I have to upload my driver's license and take a selfie?
Plaid IDV is the legal mechanism that lets DealNow operate as a money-moving platform. KYC regulations require any business that holds or transmits funds to confirm a real, government-recognized identity behind every account. The selfie pairs with the ID to prevent someone from using a stolen license that isn't theirs.
Does DealNow store my Social Security Number, driver's license image, bank password, or routing number?
No. Prove and Plaid handle the sensitive data within their own systems and return encrypted tokens or pass/fail results to DealNow. Your driver's license image, selfie, bank login, and account number stay with the providers; they do not sit on DealNow's servers.
Are Prove and Plaid the same company?
No. They are two separate companies. Prove handles phone-centric identity. Plaid handles two things: government-ID verification with facial recognition (Plaid IDV), and bank account connection (Plaid Auth). DealNow uses both companies because each is the industry standard for what it does.
Can I get verified without a mobile phone or without a driver's license?
Prove's verification is phone-centric, so a working mobile number is required. Plaid IDV also accepts a state-issued photo ID if you don't have a driver's license. If you don't have either a working phone or a government-issued ID, contact support@dealnow.com and we'll review your situation.
How long does verification take?
The phone, driver's license, and bank-link steps typically all complete in the same session. If a step requires additional information — for example, Plaid flags an unclear ID image and asks for a re-take — the timing depends on how quickly you can provide that information.
Still need help?
Reach our support team at support@dealnow.com or open a chat from your dashboard. To help us resolve faster, please include:
- Your DealNow account email address
- Which step you got stuck on (phone verification, driver's license, selfie, or bank connection)
- The device and browser you're using
We typically respond within one business day.