ZEN.COM asks this question to meet legal requirements and keep financial services safe for everyone.
A politically exposed person (PEP) is someone who holds, or has held, a prominent public role. This includes roles like politicians, judges, senior public officials, and, in some cases, their close family members. Because of the influence linked to these positions, such roles can carry a higher risk of misuse, for example, attempted bribery or pressure.
By law, all financial institutions must check whether their clients are PEPs. That’s why we ask this during verification.
If you’re not a PEP
If you don’t hold a public role and don’t have a close family member who does, there’s usually nothing to worry about. In many cases, the question appears because your name is similar to someone listed as a PEP, and we need to confirm the details.
If you are a PEP
Being a PEP, or related to one, doesn’t stop you from opening or using a ZEN account. It simply means we may need to complete a few additional checks, as required by regulations.
See also: What are the legal grounds for conducting the verifications?