Are Online Banks Safe?

If they’re FDIC-insured, online banks are as safe as traditional brick-and-mortar banks in many ways. You can also take steps as a consumer to ensure your account is as protected as possible when banking online, whether you bank with a brick-and-mortar or an online bank, also called a direct or digital bank.

What Is an Online Bank and How Does It Work?

An online bank operates entirely online. Unlike traditional banks, online ones don’t have physical branches that you can visit. Instead, you do all of your banking from a website or mobile app. Around one-third of consumers use a digital-only bank, according to J.D. Power, a company analyzing consumer behavior.

Online banks offer many traditional bank services, including checking accounts, savings accounts, and ATM access. And because of the lack of overhead from brick-and-mortar buildings, they can offer benefits such as lower fees and better interest rates. Many banks in our best CDs, best high-yield savings accounts, and best money market accounts lists are online banks.

On the other hand, online banks lack some traditional banking services that can improve your sense of security:

• You can’t visit a local branch for a face-to-face conversation with a bank employee. 
• No access to safety deposit boxes for record and valuable safekeeping. 
• No services like cash deposits, money orders, notarization, and more.

What Measures Do Online Banks Take to Protect Your Money?

Like traditional banks, online banks take various security measures to protect your money. The steps they take to secure your account are standard across all financial institutions that offer online banking.

FDIC Insurance

Most banks are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). FDIC insurance protects your deposits up to $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category in each bank. If your bank fails, FDIC insurance ensures your funds are protected up to the deposit insurance limits.

Data Encryption

Using federal guidance, online and traditional banks use strong online encryption, which prevents anyone besides your bank from reading your data, including your card numbers and other information.

Multi-Factor Authentication

Multi-factor or two-factor authentication requires layers of authentication before allowing you to access your account. For example, rather than only requiring that you type in your password, your bank may also require that you answer a security question or type in a PIN that’s sent to your phone or email inbox.

Automatic Sign-Out

Many online banks use automatic sign-out or time-out. If you use your bank’s mobile app or website and don’t log off when you’re done, you’ll be automatically logged out after a certain time passes. This prevents other people from opening your account on your device without having to log in.

Fraud Monitoring

If anyone hacks into your bank account or gets your debit or credit card information, many online banks have security monitoring to catch the fraud as quickly as possible. Your bank may contact you if they notice unusual activity on your account, and you won’t be held liable for any unauthorized transactions.

How to Know If an Online Bank is Legitimate

It’s understandable to be cautious of online banks. After all, you can’t just visit your local branch like you can a traditional bank or credit union.

Take these steps to verify an online bank’s legitimacy before opening an account and depositing your money.

Confirm the Bank is FDIC Insured

The FDIC offers an online tool to help you verify that a bank is legitimate and FDIC insured. You can search by bank name, FDIC certification number, and website. Using this tool can also be helpful if you know a bank is legitimate and it will help ensure you’re on the right URL. 

Check for Customer Complaints

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has a searchable Consumer Complaint Database that accepts complaints about various financial products and services. If you’re considering opening an account with an online bank, check the database for any complaints. Be especially cautious if the same complaint occurs many times.

Read Online Reviews

Online reviews with outlets such as the Better Business Bureau or online publishers are an excellent way to learn about customer experiences with a particular bank. While online reviews aren’t a guarantee of the type of service you’ll get, you can at least observe whether they’re generally positive or negative and whether there are any recurring problems.

Learn About Bank Security Measures

If you’re concerned about the safety of your money and your data, research what security measures an online bank uses. Many banks share this information on their website so prospective customers can find it.

Other Tips to Keep Your Money and Data Safe

Both online and traditional banks take steps to keep your information safe in your bank account. There are ways you further protect your money and keep your data secure:

• Password protect your devices: Set up passwords on any devices you use for online banking, including your smartphone, tablet, or computer.
• Set up multi-factor authentication: Most banks offer multi-factor authentication, which requires an added step to log in rather than just entering your password.
• Use strong passwords and change them often: It’s essential to use a password that can’t be hacked. Not only should you use strong passwords that use a variety of characters, but you should update those passwords regularly, such as every three months.
• Avoid using public Wi-Fi for online banking: Logging into your bank account from public Wi-Fi can make your account vulnerable and make it easier for others to view your information.
• Use only private devices: Avoid logging into your bank account on a public computer or someone else’s phone. You could inadvertently grant someone else access to your account.
• Be cautious of how you share bank account information: Avoid sending your bank account number or other private information, such as your Social Security number, via email. Your bank will never ask for this information by email or text.
• Check your account for fraudulent activity: You can take various steps to watch for unauthorized activity in your accounts. Consider setting up text alerts for purchases or checking your account often.
• Keep your software up to date: When an update is available for your phone or banking app, make sure to download it. Keeping up-to-date with updates ensures everything is running in peak condition and with the latest security features.

The Bottom Line

Online banking opens us up to different vulnerabilities than we might be exposed to with traditional in-person banking. Additionally, online-only banks bring new features to the industry that can lead to consumer mistrust.

However, online banks can be just as safe as traditional ones. Before opening an account with any bank, ensure the bank is FDIC insured, check what security measures they use, and enact security measures to keep your information safe.