AI literacy and certification in the financial sector.
AI has become mainstream technology in the Dutch financial sector. CBS reports 37.4% AI adoption among financial institutions in 2024; DNB follow-up research shows that by early 2025 almost 80% of large and medium-sized insurers had one or more AI applications in use. Yet according to DNB/AFM, only 6% of Dutch people have a clear picture of how AI is used at their own bank.
What is at play
What is at play in the financial sector.
Banks use AI for fraud detection, transaction monitoring (AML/CFT), KYC, credit scoring and customer segmentation. ING, Rabobank and ABN AMRO are working with TNO on Multi-Party Computation for collaborative money-laundering detection without data exchange. Insurers use AI for claims handling, risk assessment and personalised products; DNB notes that approximately 21% of applications are sourced from third parties and that around 70% take EIOPA principles into account. Generative AI is being adopted cautiously across the sector, often through shielded enterprise environments.
Why AI literacy matters here in particular
Two high-risk applications and heavy regulatory pressure.
The AI Act explicitly designates two financial applications in Annex III as high-risk: creditworthiness assessment of natural persons (excluding pure fraud detection, recital 37) and risk assessment and insurance pricing for life and health insurance. Beyond these, the Wft, GDPR, Wwft, Solvency II, CRR/CRD and, since January 2025, DORA for digital operational resilience all apply. The Ethical Framework for Data-Driven Applications of the Verbond van Verzekeraars (updated 1 January 2025) constitutes binding self-regulation. DNB and AFM are the designated market supervisors for the AI Act in the financial sector.
The four SAIG levels for the financial sector
Four levels, one framework.
For employees who occasionally encounter AI via internal tooling.
For customer advisers, claims handlers and back-office staff who regularly use AI in daily processes.
For mortgage and credit advisers, fraud analysts and actuaries who must independently assess and explain outputs.
For model validators, risk managers, compliance officers, AI Officers, lawyers, DPOs and board members who safeguard high-risk obligations.
Which level fits which role?
Role and recommended level.
| Role | AI contact | Recommended level |
|---|---|---|
| Reception desk, administrative support | incidental | Awareness Badge |
| Retail customer adviser, claims handler | daily AI in files | Basis |
| Mortgage adviser, credit or fraud analyst | works with scoring models | Practitioner |
| Actuary, investment analyst, data scientist | builds or assesses models | Practitioner |
| Model validator, internal audit | independent review | Advanced |
| Risk manager, compliance, AI Officer, DPO, board member | governance, AI Act compliance | Advanced |
For organisations and for professionals
One standard, two tracks.
For banks, insurers and pension funds, SAIG provides a structured framework for demonstrably complying with Article 4 across all three lines of defence — aligned with DNB/AFM supervision and with the Ethical Framework of the Verbond van Verzekeraars. For individual professionals, the certificate is portable in a labour market that places a high premium on demonstrable expertise and continuing education.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about AI in the financial sector.
Is SAIG mandatory for banks or insurers?
No. Article 4 requires an adequate level of AI literacy; SAIG certification is one structured route.
Does SAIG replace the Wft professional competence requirements?
No. Wft-PE and SAIG are complementary: Wft tests financial professional competence, SAIG tests AI competence.
Which level suits a credit adviser?
Practitioner: credit scoring is high-risk under Annex III; the adviser must be able to weigh and explain outcomes.
How does SAIG relate to DORA?
DORA concerns operational resilience and ICT risk; SAIG concerns AI competence of individuals. Both are complementary.
What changes on 2 August 2026?
Enforcement of Article 4 begins, and the high-risk obligations from Annex III are activated; DNB and AFM are preparing as market supervisors.
How does SAIG relate to the Verbond's Ethical Framework?
Complementary. The Ethical Framework is an organisational standard; SAIG certifies individuals working within that framework.
Next step
Schedule an orientation call.
We discuss what Article 4 means specifically for your organisation in the financial sector and which SAIG route fits your roles and risk profile.
Sources: CBS AI monitor 2024; DNB/AFM report AI and supervision (April 2024); DNB sector study insurers 2025/2026; Verbond van Verzekeraars Ethical Framework 2025; EUR-Lex Regulation (EU) 2024/1689; DORA Regulation (EU) 2022/2554.