KYB vs KYC: what business verification checks, and why it takes longer

KYC checks a person. KYB checks a company, then runs KYC on the people behind it. Here is what is checked, and why it takes days rather than minutes.

William Sunjo M.Operations and compliance editor

Published: 1 September 2026
Reading time: 2 min read

"What is kyb and kyc" is a common search from founders waiting on a business account approval. They passed identity checks in minutes; now the company review has taken three days. The difference is in what is being checked.

KYC and KYB side by side

	KYC	KYB
Who is checked	One individual	A company, plus the people behind it
Main questions	Is this person who they say? Where do they live? Are they sanctioned?	Does the company exist? Who owns and controls it? What does it do?
Typical documents	Passport, proof of address, selfie	Registration documents, ownership details, business description, plus KYC for each owner
Time	Minutes	Hours to weeks

What KYB checks

The company exists. Registration certificate, company number, status in the official register.
Who owns it. Everyone with 25% or more, traced through any holding companies to the people at the top. See beneficial owners explained.
Who controls it. At least one senior person, such as a director or CEO.
What it does. Products, clients, countries, expected volumes, and whether that matches the website and documents.
Screening. The company and every owner against sanctions lists, politically exposed person lists and adverse media.

Each owner and the controlling person then go through KYC.

Why KYB takes longer

Documents come from different places and must agree with each other.
Ownership can be layered through holding companies in several countries.
Someone has to judge whether the business activity makes sense, which cannot be fully automated.
Questions go back and forth when something is missing or inconsistent.

How to get through faster

Use the company's exact registered name everywhere.
Upload clear, complete documents, all pages, recent proof of address.
Draw the ownership chart if there is a holding company.
Describe the business in concrete terms: what you sell, to whom, where, and how much a month.
Have a working website that matches.

The KYB documents guide lists each document, and proof of address for a business account covers the one most often rejected.

On Rivet

Rivet's verification covers the company and each owner of 25% or more, entirely online. A complete file gets a verdict in three business days. See Services.

Questions people ask

What is KYB?

Know Your Business: the checks a bank or payment provider runs on a company before opening an account. It confirms the company is registered, identifies its owners and controllers, and assesses what it does and where.

What is the difference between KYB and KYC?

KYC verifies a person's identity and address and screens them. KYB verifies a company: its registration, ownership structure, activity and risk. KYB includes KYC on each beneficial owner and controlling person.

How long does KYB take?

From a day to a few weeks, depending on the provider, the company's structure and how complete the file is. Simple companies with one owner and a clear website are fastest. Holding companies and missing documents slow it down.

Why do I need to explain my business activity?

Providers must understand the expected activity to monitor the account later. If you say you sell software to US clients and then pay hundreds of individuals in another country, the mismatch triggers a review. A clear description at the start avoids that.

Sources

Written by

William Sunjo M.

Operations and compliance editor

William covers what happens once a company starts moving money: getting the business verified, paying contractors and suppliers abroad, and keeping card spend under control. William writes for the founder or finance lead who has to make it work this week, and links every rule cited to the text it comes from.