Mobile Banking (2024)

The use of a mobile device to carry out financial transactions

Written byCFI Team

What is Mobile Banking?

Mobile banking refers to the use of a mobile device to carry out financial transactions. The service is provided by some financial institutions, especially banks. Mobile banking enables clients and users to carry out various transactions, which may vary depending on the institution.

Mobile Banking (1)

Currently, mobile banking’s become easier with the development of cellular mobile applications. Clients are now able to check their balances, view their bank statements online, make transfers, and even carry out prepaid service purchases.

Summary

  • Mobile banking refers to the use of a mobile device to carry out transactions. The service is provided by some financial institutions, especially banks.
  • Mobile banking services can be categorized into the following: account information access, transactions, investments, support services, and content and news.
  • To date, many financial institutions and banks make use of both SMS and apps to keep their clients informed of their account activities or to send out alerts to clients regarding possible fraud and/or updates and maintenance of service.

A Brief History of Mobile Banking

Before the introduction and enablement of mobile web services in 1999, mobile banking was completed primarily through text or SMS; it was known as SMS banking. European banks were on the frontier of mobile banking service offering, using the mobile web via WAP support.

SMS banking and mobile web were the most popular mobile banking products before 2010. With the development of smartphones with iOS or Android operating systems, mobile banking applications (apps) began to evolve. Clients were able to download the banking apps onto their smartphones with more sophisticated interfaces and improved transactional abilities.

To date, many financial institutions make use of both SMS and mobile applications to keep their clients informed of their account activities or to send out alerts regarding possible fraud and/or updates and maintenance of service provision.

Examples can be a text message from a bank, notifying users that their ATMs or apps will not be accessible during a particular time period due to system maintenance, or a confirmation text from the bank regarding a transfer carried out by the client via the mobile app.

Types of Mobile Banking Services

Mobile banking services can be categorized into the following:

1.Account information access

Account information access allows clients to view their account balances and statements by requesting a mini account statement, review transactional and account history, keep track of their term deposits, review and view loan or card statements, access investment statements (equity or mutual funds), and for some institutions, management of insurance policies.

2. Transactions

Transactional services enable clients to transfer funds to accounts at the same institution or other institutions, perform self-account transfers, pay third parties (such as bill payments), and make purchases in collaboration with other applications or prepaid service providers.

3. Investments

Investment management services enable clients to manage their portfolios or get a real-time view of their investment portfolios (term-deposits, etc.)

4. Support services

Support services enable clients to check on the status of their requests for loan or credit facilities, follow up on their card requests, and locate ATMs.

5. Content and news

Content services provide news related to finance and the latest offers by the bank or institution.

Challenges Associated With Mobile Banking

Some of the challenges associated with mobile banking include (but are not limited to):

  • Accessibility based on the type of handset being used
  • Security concerns
  • Reliability and scalability
  • Personalization ability
  • Application distribution
  • Upgrade synchronization abilities

The Importance of Mobile Banking

Mobile banking allows consumers to be able to access banking services from anywhere. Businesses and business owners are now able to save time by making use of mobile applications to process their payments or even receive funds from clients directly to their phone numbers. It is particularly popular among small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

With mobile technology, banks are able to cut down on operational costs while still maintaining client satisfaction. The fact that any client of a bank can make use of their app to request a service, such as opening an account or even the ability to schedule debit orders or other payments from an application, allows for larger transactional volumes, eventually driving business growth.

More Resources

CFI offers the Commercial Banking & Credit Analyst (CBCA)™ certification program for those looking to take their careers to the next level. To keep learning and advancing your career, the following resources will be helpful:

Mobile Banking (2024)

FAQs

What is the problem of mobile banking? ›

Data breaches occur when cybercriminals exploit website or system vulnerabilities to gain access to sensitive information. A bank may experience a data breach if they don't prioritize cybersecurity—and hackers can also use stolen data to compromise mobile banking apps.

Why is my bank asking so many questions? ›

According to regulations (Section 28 of the Law On the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing) banks have the right to request information and documents necessary for Customer Due Diligence (CDD) to be performed, and customers have the obligation to provide these, including information on customers' ...

Is it a good idea to have mobile banking? ›

It makes it easy and convenient to stay on top of your finances, since you can pay bills, send payments, or make deposits all from your mobile device. There are some downsides, however, as mobile banking apps may experience technical issues from time to time and they don't all feature the same functionality.

Is it safer to bank online or with an app? ›

Are banking apps safer than Internet banking? Banking apps can be safer than using an online banking portal due to biometric-enabled login options for your phone and the app itself. Your face, your fingerprint and your phone are a lot harder to hack than your username and password.

What are the disadvantages of mobile bank? ›

Disadvantages:
  • Security risks. While mobile banking offers security features to protect user information, there is still a risk of security breaches. ...
  • Technical issues. ...
  • Privacy concerns.

Which is better mobile banking or internet banking? ›

The biggest difference between the two is their functionality. Internet Banking allows you to conduct online transactions through your PC or laptop and an internet connection. On the other hand, mobile banking can be done with or without internet. Many banks nowadays have their mobile apps for mobile banking.

How much cash deposit is suspicious? ›

Depositing a big amount of cash that is $10,000 or more means your bank or credit union will report it to the federal government. The $10,000 threshold was created as part of the Bank Secrecy Act, passed by Congress in 1970, and adjusted with the Patriot Act in 2002.

Why do banks ask why you are withdrawing money? ›

Also the bank would like to know if you can explain what the withdrawal is for, to make absolutely sure that you are who you say you are. Usually withdrawals in cash aren't things that would cause them to be suspicious for money laundering, since money laundering involves money coming in and not out.

What happens if I deposit 50k into my bank account? ›

If you plan to deposit a large amount of cash, it may need to be reported to the government. Banks must report cash deposits totaling more than $10,000. Business owners are also responsible for reporting large cash payments of more than $10,000 to the IRS.

Why do people prefer mobile banking? ›

Unlike a bank branch, mobile banking conveniently gives you access to your account anytime you like — with some exceptions, such as planned maintenance updates and unexpected outages. This ease of accessibility saves you time.

What is the difference between phone banking and mobile banking? ›

Telebanking is when you perform banking transactions over a phone call while in mobile banking you use a software/interface on your mobile device to access your account and make a transaction.

Are there any disadvantages to online on mobile banking? ›

Are there disadvantages of online banking? Online banking does have some potential disadvantages. These include a lack of face-to-face customer support, cash deposit services and a risk of technology failures or security breaches.

Can hackers access your banking app? ›

Mobile banking or any other activity that exposes your sensitive data should never be done on public Wi-Fi. If a hacker is monitoring the public Wi-Fi or hotspot you are using, they could potentially intercept the data being transferred to and from your phone and use it to access your banking account.

Should people use online banking? ›

While the upsides of using an online bank often include higher rates and fewer bank fees, a potential downside can be the lack of branches. If you're a person who prefers being able to do your banking in person at a branch, it's probably best to stick with a bank that can accommodate that.

Are there risks with online banks? ›

Online banking is generally safe and not easy to hack — as long as you take the right steps to protect your information. This means setting up strong passwords and changing them frequently, and using additional tools like two-factor authentication to give yourself an extra layer of protection.

What are the problems with online banking? ›

It is vital to understand the risks and security concerns that come with internet banking, though. Significant security issues include identity theft, fraud, use of weak passwords, phishing attacks, unsecure networks and devices, ignorance, insider threats, and system flaws.

Which is one of the major problem in online banking? ›

Online banking faces a constant challenge in the form of fraud, which poses a risk to both customers and financial institutions like banks.

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