3 Biggest Myths about Mobile Banking

October 29, 2020

By Ashleigh, K-Staff

Banking, Insighter

You need to transfer money from one account to another. How do you proceed?

1950: Put on your hat and overcoat and head to the castle-esque credit union downtown.
1980: Head to the credit union—hat and overcoat now merely a fun fashion option—or make a phone call. (In those days, kids, a phone call meant you were tethered to the wall for the duration!)
2010: Log in with the Internet! Ride the computer wave.
2020: Your financial institution is in your pocket. Let your thumbs do the transferring!

Technology has transformed the way we bank, and while the breakthroughs and changes have been exciting, the newness of it all can cause trepidation. After all, going into a bank or credit union, talking to a representative, walking out with a physical receipt of your activity—there’s an air of safety and comfort in the routine. Sure, it’s not very convenient sometimes, but at least it feels familiar. Can we have convenience AND safety?

The truth is, Mobile Banking is at least as safe—if not safer than—more familiar banking options. The difference really is that safety depends, to some degree, on the user of these technologies.

Myth #1: If I have access to my accounts on my phone and I lose it, I’m vulnerable.

Fact: Using a phone or tablet generally requires a measure of authentication before the device will even operate. Face recognition, fingerprint security and PINs have made today’s phones incredibly secure.

Even if someone were able to gain access to your device, AND manage to unlock it, that person would still need to open your Kirtland FCU mobile app and go through Kirtland FCU authentication to reach your accounts. Phones tend to have built-in cryptographic hardware that is better leveraged to improve security and authentication. You’d need a pretty sophisticated hacker to outright break through the authentications.

Myth #2: Someone can see my transactions and information if I use apps like this.

Fact: As long as you are using your phone’s data network or a secured WiFi system, accessing your accounts is a private affair.

A note of caution: when you’re out and about, it can be tempting to connect to public WiFi. THIS IS UNSAFE. Do not ever conduct sensitive business while connected to a public WiFi. Watching cat videos? Go for it. Need to log into your bank or enter personal data? Make sure you’re on your phone’s data network, not a public connection.

Myth #3: These apps are hard to use.

Fact: Not strictly a security issue, we know, but Mobile Banking is incredibly easy to use, offering most of the features you’d find in Online Banking, plus some. Have a check you need to deposit?

You could head off to the bank, stand in line, and deposit your check. OR, you can log into your Mobile Banking app, take a couple photos of the check, enter a few pieces of information about the check, and you’re done! You can split a check at dinner, transfer money between accounts, even apply for loans and credit cards, all behind a secure authentication wall.

Personal Security

The biggest risks for involving Mobile Banking really come down to individual awareness and decision making. Here are a few rules-of-thumb that will help you stay safe when you venture into the world of mobile banking.

Check the app before you download – It’s technically possible for a thief to create a lookalike app to get you to gain access to your information. Make sure that any app you install is genuine. Read the reviews, check the developer name and how many downloads there are for that particular app. The best place to get a Mobile Banking app is from the website of your bank, credit union, or other financial institution. They’ll be linked so you can go straight to the app without searching. If you do have to search for the Kirtland FCU Mobile App, this is what you’ll see when you find our app.

Make sure to note the Developer name, the number of reviews, and the number of downloads/ratings.

Keep your app up to date – Check for updates on your app and install them. Not only will you have the most up-to-date experience, you’ll have the latest security fixes and improvements.
Set all security and authentications – Set up your mobile device with face recognition or fingerprint identification abilities. Keep any backup passwords or PINs private.

Still have questions? We’re here to help! Give us a call at 1-800-880-5328, and we’ll answer any questions, even walk you through set-up. Find the Kirtland FCU Mobile App in your app store on your Android or Apple device.

Welcome To The Insighter!

3 Biggest Myths about Mobile Banking

Myth #1: If I have access to my accounts on my phone and I lose it, I’m vulnerable.

Fact: Using a phone or tablet generally requires a measure of authentication before the device will even operate. Face recognition, fingerprint security and PINs have made today’s phones incredibly secure.

Myth #2: Someone can see my transactions and information if I use apps like this.

Fact: As long as you are using your phone’s data network or a secured WiFi system, accessing your accounts is a private affair.

Myth #3: These apps are hard to use.

Fact: Not strictly a security issue, we know, but Mobile Banking is incredibly easy to use, offering most of the features you’d find in Online Banking, plus some. Have a check you need to deposit?

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