Manulife Investments wins at Hong Kong Business Technology Excellence Awards 2026

The investment manager transformed user authentication by replacing passwords with secure biometric log-ins across regional markets.

Manulife Investments won Customer Identity and Access Management - Financial Technology in the Hong Kong Business Technology Excellence Awards 2026. The firm earned the award for implementing passkey authentication on its Manulife iFUNDS platform across six regional markets, including Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam. The company is amongst the first wealth and asset managers in Hong Kong to deploy passkey authentication for client log-ins.

The initiative integrates FIDO2 WebAuthn standards directly into the wealth management system. By replacing traditional passwords with hardware-backed biometrics such as Face ID, Touch ID, or device PINs, the platform eliminates reliance on vulnerable passwords and SMS-based One-Time Passwords (OTPs). Credentials are stored securely on the user’s device and may be synchronised across trusted devices using end-to-end encryption. The cryptographic binding of passkeys to the platform domain significantly reduces the risk of phishing, credential-stuffing, and account takeover attacks.

This proactive deployment addresses cybersecurity guidance from local regulators, including the Securities and Futures Commission and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, strengthening defence mechanisms against account-takeover threats.

Implementation of the technology delivered immediate performance improvements for clients. Average log-in completion times dropped to three seconds, down from 27 seconds under the previous password and OTP system. Active client adoption reached nearly a quarter of users within the first three months of launch, whilst accounts using the feature recorded zero successful phishing or credential-stuffing breaches.

Following this rollout, the company plans to extend its authentication infrastructure across its broader insurance, retirement, and wealth applications to provide a more seamless and consistent customer experience across its services. Future phases also include integration with government-backed digital identity systems, such as Hong Kong's iAM Smart and Singapore's Singpass, enabling trusted digital identity verification across customer journeys.

The Hong Kong Business Technology Excellence Awards is Hong Kong's most prestigious platform honouring groundbreaking achievements in technology. This esteemed awards programme recognises companies and organisations that are driving innovation, transforming industries, and setting new benchmarks for excellence in Hong Kong’s dynamic tech landscape.

The Hong Kong Business Technology Excellence Awards is presented by Hong Kong Business Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2027 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's outstanding contributions in pursuit of technological innovation, please contact Julie Anne Nuñez-Difuntorum at +(65) 3158 1386 or [email protected].