IMO we need the certs / public key / TLS stuff for phone calls essentially.[1] I call them, they challenge me to prove my identity by enc/sig something in a way only i can, then they have to do the same with both their organizational identity, but also their employee identity (it's an authorized activity on behalf of the bank, and of that person). We've need this kind of thing, and a replacement for Social Security Numbers / Social Insurance Number (or other similar national identities)
[1]: (I'm probably mixing up some of the crypto specifics here, but hopefully a crypto expert can chime in and straighten them out)
Unfortunately in the US it’s a nonstarter because of the perceived privacy issues. People cannot wrap their heads around the fact that we already have a mandatory national ID, and therefore oppose what they see as the creation of one.
The core argument essentially boils down to the fact that they never use their social security number, therefore it’s not an id. Which is obviously incorrect for a number of reasons, but here we are.
The only real solution here is for the problem to get so bad that the angry majority overrules the loud but uninformed nut bars.
[1]: (I'm probably mixing up some of the crypto specifics here, but hopefully a crypto expert can chime in and straighten them out)