Mobile banking tips for smarter and safer online banking

Protecting your bank account can be done quickly and easily from your bank’s mobile app or online. Follow these simple steps to keep your money and personal information safe.

In the digital age, it’s more important than ever to protect your identity and financial information — no matter where you are. The U.S. Bank Mobile App and online banking have advanced tools to help you more safely and conveniently handle your finances. You can deposit checks from home, keep tabs on account balances and pay bills securely from your home or on-the-go. The app even has a security center built in where you can turn on various features to increase your protection.

Here are three digital banking tips for stronger security and more control over your money.

Tip 1: Set up online bill pay

Online bill pay lets you use your bank’s online site or mobile app to pay all your bills in one place. This can eliminate the need to log into multiple sites or mail checks each month.

It’s quick and easy to set up. You simply log into your account, fill out your bill provider’s information and authorize your bank to send payments. Payments can be sent electronically to the payee or in the form of a paper check. You can even pay billers who aren’t set up online. Many mobile banking apps also allow you to deposit checks via the app by taking a picture with your smartphone.

Online bill pay comes with big security benefits. For one, it’s safer than sending payments via mail. There’s a greater risk of your personal information ending up in the wrong hands when it’s physically traveling around on paper. Plus, paying all bills in one secure location reduces the risk of one or more of your individual accounts being compromised.

Tip 2: Switch to paperless statements (and access your account from anywhere) 

When you set up mobile or online banking, you’ll have the option to switch to paperless statements. This means you’ll receive all statements and documents electronically. Going paperless not only reduces your carbon footprint, but also lowers your risk of mail fraud and identity theft. This is because you’ll no longer need to dispose of your statements in the trash or recycling.

Online and mobile bank accounts also allow you to conveniently access all your account information and payment records in one place. You can check your balance anytime, or you can view, save, download or print your monthly statements and transaction history. You can also monitor account activity and spot any unauthorized or double charges. Some apps like the U.S. Bank Mobile App let you link external accounts too, so you can stay in the know with an all-in-one view of your finances.

Tip 3: Stay informed with automated alerts and notifications

A valuable safety tool is automated account alerts which can be set up to notify you of important or suspicious activity. When looking for a banking app check to see that it has real-time security alerts so you can make sure your money is safe right now or anytime. Think: new statements, balance updates or declined transactions. You can also set up text or email notifications with your online bill pay service, so you know when a payment is due or when automatic payments are scheduled or have been processed.

Ready to get started with the U.S. Bank Mobile App?