ASN Bank blocks GrapheneOS and non-Google Android
Original: Dutch 'idealist' bank ASN blocks non-Google Android, including GrapheneOS
Why This Matters
Bank app Play Integrity blocks increasingly shut out privacy-conscious users globally.
Dutch ethical bank ASN Bank has begun blocking its Android app on non-Google Android builds, including privacy-focused GrapheneOS, requiring Google Play Services to log in, per a GitHub compatibility tracker.
ASN Bank, a Netherlands-based bank that markets itself on ethical and sustainable principles, now requires Google Play Services to log into its Android banking app (nl.devolksbank.asn.bankieren). The issue was first filed in July 2022 on the PrivSec-dev banking-apps-compat-report tracker, a community project that logs which banking apps work on de-Googled Android builds like GrapheneOS.
Initially, the app appeared to work without Google Play Services on multiple Pixel devices. One user confirmed it ran fine on a Pixel 6 Pro with neither Google Play nor Play Services installed. However, a subsequent report noted that customers could no longer log in without Google Play Services — a stricter enforcement added after the initial positive reports.
The tracker thread has since been closed, but the underlying issue remains for users of privacy-hardened Android distributions. GrapheneOS is a security-focused Android build popular among users who want to minimize Google's data collection. Banks increasingly use SafetyNet or Play Integrity API checks to restrict access on non-certified devices, locking out legitimate users who simply choose not to run Google's services. ASN Bank's self-described 'idealist' branding makes the irony of the lockout especially pointed for its privacy-conscious customer base.