Mobile Banking Safety Tips

Mobile banking. . .is it safe? Yes. 

Should you take precautions? Yes.

It’s no surprise that mobile banking keeps rising in popularity as it offers customers added convenience and flexibility to do their banking. It is important to be aware of the cyber threats that face new banking methods. By taking proper precautions, mobile banking can be a safe and convenient way to manage your accounts. Help us keep your financial information safe by asking yourself the following questions.

1. Is my account safe? One of the biggest advantages to mobile banking is the convenience it brings to monitoring your accounts. When you start banking on a mobile device, your most frequent action should be to check your accounts to ensure no fraudulent transactions appear.

2. Is this link safe? Phishing scams are common in both email and text messages. Never click on links you receive in a text message that come from unknown numbers. If you receive an email that appears to be from your bank, look closely to make sure it is actually from the bank before clicking on any links.

3. Is my network secure? You should never conduct mobile banking over a public Wi-Fi connection. Use a secured private Wi-Fi connection, or switch to cellular data to conduct banking. 

4. Is this banking app official? Before downloading a mobile banking app, check the bank’s website to see if it is promoted by the bank. If it does not appear on the website, it is possible that it was not sanctioned by the bank.

5. Are my other apps safe? Only download apps from your device’s app store. Apps are scanned for malware before they are made public. Android devices allow users to download from external sources, however, and these apps could be corrupted by malware. Beware of apps that ask for unnecessary “permissions”.

6. Are my apps up-to-date? Apps are frequently updated to fix bugs and provide added security. Make sure you have downloaded the latest updates to your app to ensure your device is secure.

7. Is my device secure? Use the security measures that come with your mobile device. Set a passcode to your device, so if it is lost or stolen, someone will not be able to gain access to your information.

8. Have I changed my password lately? Passwords should be changed frequently. We suggest every few months.

9. Did I log out? When you finish your mobile banking, make sure you log out of your account. 

10. Is anyone watching? The most basic form of information theft is observation. Be aware of your surroundings and be sure you don’t have any “shoulder surfers” when you’re punching in sensitive information.

11. See something suspicious? If you suspect fraud, report it to your bank immediately.

Also, please avoid using your mobile device for storage. Don’t save sensitive information like passwords or a social security number on your mobile device.