Online banking

Online and mobile banking are quick and simple ways to manage your money. Banks take your online security seriously, but it's still important to take steps to stay safe while banking online. Find out what to expect while using online banking.

What is online banking?

Online banking lets you access your bank account and manage your money over the internet on a computer, smartphone or tablet.

You can use online banking to do tasks such as:

checking your bank balance
checking your bank statements
paying bills and transferring money – see Money Helper
managing direct debits and standing orders
checking on linked accounts – such as savings, ISAs, loans or mortgages
activate your bank card.

Banking online is usually quick, free and secure. Some banks also have free applications (apps) which you can download to your smartphone or tablet – this is known as mobile banking. See our page Starting on the internet for more about apps.

Top tips for online banking

When banking online, make sure you do the following checks.

Always use a secure internet connection and device you trust.
Make sure the website is secure. For example, look out for the ‘https’ at the start of the website address, and a padlock symbol on the address bar. See Staying safe online for more ways to tell.
Always type your bank’s web address into the website browser – never follow a link from a text message or email.
Sign up for any security features that your bank offers.
Never give out your full log in details over the phone or in an email.
Always log out after you’ve finished banking online.
If you need to call your bank, always use the phone number on your bank statement.

If you use mobile banking

Always check the bank’s app has been checked for security. Banks usually publish statements on their website about how they do this.
Download it from a verified place, such as the Apple app store or Google play store.
Avoid using public Wi-Fi when accessing your banking app. It's better to use mobile internet (3G or 4G) when you're out and about. You can check what you’re connected to by looking at the icons in the top bar, or in settings on your mobile or tablet.

Visit Get safe online for more advice on online banking and mobile banking.

How secure is online banking?

Banks take your online security very seriously. They typically use features such as:

encrypted websites – this means the information that passes between you and the bank is scrambled up and can only be unscrambled with a secret code. This is done automatically by the bank’s computers to stop scammers getting the information
timed logouts – this is when the website logs you out if you’ve not done anything on it for a certain amount of time
lots of steps to log in – for example, you may have a username and password as well as a security device, like a card reader
two-factor or multi-factor authentication – this involves a one-off code being texted or emailed to you that confirms who you are
alerts and prompts to check the details are correct before you make a bank transfer.

It’s important that you also follow steps to keep your details secure, such as keeping your device updated with the latest software, using strong passwords and using a secure internet connection. For more information, see Staying safe online.

Stay alert for scams

Watch out for scammers who try to trick you into giving away your bank details. Some common scams include fake phone calls, emails and text messages which pretend to be from your bank.

Remember, your bank will never ask for your PIN, password or for you to transfer money to another account.

Learn more about how to spot and avoid a scam.

Learning to use online banking

Many banks have online tutorials and videos on how to use their online banking system or mobile banking app. Visit your bank's website or pop into your local branch to find out more.

You can also try Learn My Way's free online course on online and mobile banking to help boost your skills.

How to get online banking

If you want to use online banking, you’ll need to register for it with your bank. There will usually be a few steps that you'll need to follow before you can access an online account. For example, you may need to:

provide some ID to prove who you are
get a security device, such as a card reader
activate your account using a code that's posted to you
use a username and password to log into your online account.

It's best to visit your local branch or call your bank to find out about getting online access to your account.

What to do if something goes wrong

If you notice any suspicious activity on your bank account or accidentally transfer money to the wrong account, contact your bank as soon as you can.

You should also contact your bank if you think your bank card details have been stolen. Some banks may allow you to pause or stop bank cards from your online account or banking app.

If you think you’ve been scammed, you can report it to Action Fraud. Find out more on What to do if you’ve been scammed.

If your mobile or tablet is lost or stolen

If your device is lost or stolen, you should tell your network provider. If it's been stolen, call 101 to report it to the police straightaway.

If you used mobile banking on it, ask your bank to stop your mobile banking app. You can then start it again if you get a new device. If you have another device already, you may be able to use it to log into your online account and stop the banking app on the missing device yourself.

See Citizens Advice for more on what to do if your mobile is lost or stolen.