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Phone Security Settings to Change to Protect Your Banking Apps

Secure your handset, prepare for loss or theft, and enable the strongest bank-account authentication available to you.

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To protect banking apps, secure the phone with a strong passcode and automatic locking, keep the operating system and apps updated, prepare to locate or erase a lost device, and enable the strongest multi-factor authentication (MFA) your bank supports. The exact menus and account-security options vary by phone, software version, and bank.

1. Set a strong passcode and automatic lock

Use a PIN or passcode of at least six digits; the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says longer passcodes are better. Set the phone to lock automatically after a short period of inactivity so an unattended handset does not stay accessible.

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Face or fingerprint unlocking can make access more convenient once a passcode is configured. Biometrics do not make the passcode unnecessary, and unlocking the phone biometrically does not necessarily replace your bank’s own MFA.

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Look in your phone’s security or screen-lock settings for the passcode and auto-lock controls. Labels and menu paths change across iOS and Android versions, so use the settings search or the device maker’s current support instructions if you cannot find them. The FTC’s phone security guidance covers passcodes and automatic locking.

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2. Keep the phone and banking apps updated

Turn on automatic operating-system updates if your phone offers the option, and install app updates regularly. Updates can include protections against security threats, though installing them cannot guarantee that a device or account will not be compromised.

Remove apps you no longer use. Fewer unused apps means fewer applications to maintain and review. The FTC recommends keeping both the phone’s software and apps updated and deleting unused apps in its phone security guidance.

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3. Prepare for loss or theft

Back up the phone and enable its built-in lost-device service. Depending on the device and account setup, that service can help you locate the handset, lock it remotely, or erase it. Find the service in the phone’s settings and confirm that it is enabled before you need it.

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  1. Before a loss: Make a current backup and check that the lost-device feature is on.
  2. If the phone goes missing: Use the device maker’s lost-device service to locate or secure it; erase it if appropriate for your circumstances.
  3. If banking or payment apps were on it: Contact your bank or payment provider promptly to report the loss and ask what account or payment protections to take next.

The FTC recommends backups and lost-device protections. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) also advises contacting the provider when a phone with a mobile payment app is lost or stolen: CFPB guidance on fraud and mobile payments.

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4. Turn on MFA for your bank account

In your bank’s app or website, open account security or sign-in settings and enable MFA if it is available. MFA asks for another proof of identity in addition to a password, but the bank determines which methods you can use. Check the bank’s own instructions and recovery process before changing authentication methods.

Where your bank supports them, FIDO security keys and passkeys are phishing-resistant choices. If those are not available, an authenticator app is generally preferable to SMS when the bank offers both. Availability and recovery options differ by institution, so choose the strongest supported method you can reliably recover access to.

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CISA recommends FIDO-based authentication where feasible and discusses passkeys and hardware security keys in its Mobile Communications Best Practice Guidance. Its MFA guidance describes security keys, app-based MFA, biometrics, and text or email codes.

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5. Compare the MFA options your bank offers

Method Security considerations What to check
FIDO security key or passkey Phishing-resistant when implemented and supported by the service. Confirm the bank supports it, and check device compatibility and account recovery. A physical key may use a connector or NFC; verify it works with your phone before buying one.
Authenticator app Generally preferable to SMS when both are offered, but its protection and recovery depend on the bank’s implementation and your account setup. Check whether the bank supports app-based codes and how you can regain access if you lose or replace the phone.
SMS code Weaker than phishing-resistant methods: a SIM-swap attacker may receive texted codes, and one-time codes can be intercepted. Use it if it is the best method your bank offers, but ask whether stronger alternatives are available.

The FTC explains that SIM swapping can expose texted verification codes in its two-factor authentication guidance. The CFPB likewise notes that intercepted one-time codes may be vulnerable in Circular 2022-04.

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6. Consider a hardware key only if it fits your setup

A physical security key is optional, not a requirement for secure banking. It helps only if your bank supports FIDO authentication and the key is compatible with your phone. CISA identifies hardware keys as an effective FIDO-based option; check the bank’s support page and the key’s connector or NFC compatibility before purchasing. Do not assume that every bank accepts a security key or passkey.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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