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What is Knowledge Based Authentication (KBA)?
What is Knowledge Based Authentication (KBA)?

Help protect your identity with Knowledge Based Authentication (KBA).

Pam English avatar
Written by Pam English
Updated over a week ago

Grantmakers and other security-minded organizations use Submittable's Fraud Prevention tools to weed out possible fraudulent applicants. Knowledge Based Authentication (KBA) is a tool widely used by service providers and financial institutions to verify a person's identity. After providing your information, you will see a 5-question quiz based on your personal history. Please note that for privacy purposes, your quiz responses will not be stored or shared with organizations.

What does a KBA quiz look like?

You will see a field in a submission form that looks like this:

This is a required field, meaning you must complete the KBA quiz before you can submit the form. Review the Terms of Use then click on Proceed. The fields asking for personal information will appear. Below those fields you'll see this information:

After you have entered all the required information, click Initiate Quiz. Please note: If you enter invalid information, an error message will appear. Fix the information to continue.

After you've initiated the quiz, you will have five minutes to answer the questions presented. All questions will require responses. Once you've answered them, click Submit Answers. You will see a verification that your quiz has been completed. Continue filling out the submission form and submit it.

KBA FAQs

  • What if I don't have a Social Security Number? An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) can be used. If you do not have an SSN or ITIN, you will not be able to complete the KBA quiz. Please contact the organization you're trying to apply to for more information.

  • I live in a country other than the United States. Can I use a KBA quiz? The KBA requires a US address and SSN/ITIN. Unless you have this information, you cannot use the KBA quiz. Please contact the organization you're trying to apply to for more information.

  • I can't get a quiz to generate. Check all of your responses to the personal identification fields. Be sure you're not using an alias instead of your full legal name.


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