To access online banking, you must already have an account with the relevant bank. If you do, you'll then need to register online via your bank's website. The safest way to find your bank's website is to enter the web address as it's printed on a piece of communcation from your bank (such as a bank statement or letter).
How you set up online banking may vary slightly depending on your bank. You can phone your bank to enquire about their particular process, but it may include some of the following steps:
- entering your personal details including your name, contact details and bank account details (the sort code and account number)
- answering some questions from your bank to verify your identity
- entering an activation code that's sent to you either in the post or via text
- setting up a username and a secure password or passcode.
Most banks also have their own smartphone and tablet apps, so once you've set up online banking, you can download your bank's app. This allows you to do things like check your balance and send payments. If you have an Android phone or tablet, you can find banking apps in the Google Play Store. If you have an Apple phone or tablet, you can find banking apps in the App Store.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of fake banking apps available to download, so it's a good idea to check that you're downloading the bank or building society's genuine app. Visit their website and go to the app download page through there. You can always call your bank if you're at all unsure.
One of the benefits of online banking is that you can quickly and easily check your bank statements, as well as any upcoming transactions on your account.
If you want to, you'll still receive monthly bank statements in the post. Or you can opt to go 'paperless' and receive statements by email or download them from your online account.
There are adaptations available if you have a visual or hearing impairment. For example, many banking apps are compatible with smartphone and tablet accessibility features that you may have already set up on your phone, such as the read-aloud function or inverted screen colours.
Click here to find out more about making your device easier to use and more accesible
Be aware
There's a common scam where criminals call people and tell them their account has been hacked and that they need to move money into a 'safe' account. These criminals can even use technology that makes it look like they're phoning from official bank numbers.
Remember– yourbank will never phone you out of the blue, ask you for your PIN number or password, or ask you to transfer money into a different account.
If you're at all worried, hang up and get in touch with your bank.
