Money Advice Hub - Mobile Banking

Mobile Banking

Overview

Mobile banking is using banking apps or mobile websites on smartphones and tablets. It is growing fast in popularity as people realise the benefits and convenience of checking accounts, transferring money and making payments on the go.

Since the Open Banking regulation came into force in 2018, there has been a significant rise in 'Challenger Banks', these are small financial technology firms (Fintech) set up to compete with the larger banks, often with mobile only banking products.

Mobile technology has got a lot more sophisticated through Open Banking, you can much more with a banking app.

Visit our web pages 'A to Z UK Digital 'Challenger Banks' and 'Open Banking',

The major banks invest heavily in security to make your mobile banking experience safe and secure. It is still your responsibility to ensure that you are using mobile banking responsibly to protect your finances, tips below:

Choose banking apps from authorised app stores, and make sure mobile banking sites are authentic and secure
Use secure Wi-Fi only when doing mobile or any online financial transactions
Choose and use strong passwords and keep them to yourself

What are the risks?

Unauthorised people, including criminals gaining access to and using your bank accounts by finding or guessing your login details
Your confidential details and transactions being intercepted if the Wi-Fi you are using is not secured
‘Shoulder surfing’ - people viewing what you are doing online, over your shoulder or via CCTV
Loss or theft of your mobile device, which could contain or provide easy access to bank accounts and confidential details
Being conned into visiting fake banking websites, or downloading fake banking apps.
Being persuaded to reveal confidential details to callers claiming to be from your bank or the police, telling you there is a problem on your account

Safe Mobile Banking

Make sure your smartphone or tablet is always protected with a PIN which is difficult to guess. Do not reveal your PIN to anybody, try not to write it or store it where it can be found.
Check your device’s security settings to ensure maximum protection.
If you must use a public computer, always open 'Private browsing'. Find out out how to 'Enable Private Browsing' on our web page.
Like online banking from a computer, choose, use and protect passwords and memorable words with great care. See our web page 'Create Secure Passwords'.
Take care not to leave your device unattended, or left or stored in an insecure place. Download a tracking app which allows you to erase your data remotely, or enable this feature if already on your device.
Keep the banking and other apps on your device regularly updated.
Always log out of your banking app or mobile website when you have finished using it. Closing the app or web page or turning off your device may not be sufficient.
Do not use unsecured Wi-Fi networks for banking, purchases or checking your emails. In public places, it is very difficult to tell if a hotspot is secure or not, so it is always best not so use it. It is better to use a 3G or 4G internet connection, even if it is slower to do so.
Take care when downloading apps. Make sure that they are from an authorised store and check reviews and recommendations. There are thousands of malicious banking apps circulating, especially for Android devices, even downloadable from official app stores.
Download, use and keep updated one of the many reputable internet security apps for your device.
Check that your bank's mobile app has been validated for its security. Look on their website for their own published statement on how they have done this. Alternatively, check other app users’ views by searching online.
On the app, find and use the option for a text message to be sent every time a transaction occurs on your account. This will notify you of fraudulent transactions as soon as they happen.
Beware of emails, texts or phone calls claiming to be from your bank or the police claiming there is a problem with your account and requesting your login or other confidential details. Your bank or other authentic organisation would never request these details.
Read your bank's terms and conditions for mobile banking. Be sure you know what your responsibilities are, and those of your bank.

Worried about misuse?

Contact your bank immediately
Report it to Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud reporting centre by calling 0300 123 20 40 or by visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk