Online Banking: transfers, balances, and security
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Key takeaways
Online banking lets you manage accounts, pay bills, and send transfers through a website or app, without visiting a branch.
Most banks offer online banking alongside a mobile app version with similar features.
Setting up online banking usually requires registering with account details and creating a secure sign-in.
Online banking is often how senders fund and track an international money transfer.
Using official bank websites and apps, and never sharing sign-in details, helps keep online banking secure.
Online banking lets you manage accounts, send transfers, and pay bills through a website or app, without visiting a branch. Here’s how to use it, and how to do so safely, especially when it’s also how money being sent abroad gets managed.
What is online banking?
Online banking is a service that lets an account be accessed and managed through a website or mobile app, rather than requiring a visit to a physical branch. Common features include checking a balance, transferring money between accounts, paying bills, and setting up direct deposit(opens in new window), all available at any time rather than only during branch hours.
Why online banking matters for managing your money internationally
For many people, online banking has become the primary way they interact with a bank account(opens in new window). Rather than visiting a branch to check a balance or move money, most everyday banking tasks can be done from a phone or computer.
This matters for international transfers in a few ways:
Funding a transfer. Online banking allows quickly checking a balance and initiating a transfer to a money transfer provider, without needing to visit a branch first.
Tracking accounts. Monitoring when a scheduled transfer or automatic debit has been processed helps confirm an account balance stays on track.
Managing recurring transfers. For anyone sending money on a regular schedule, online banking makes it easier to review account activity and confirm each transfer went through as expected.
Keeping your online banking secure
Register directly through a bank’s official website or app, rather than clicking a link from an unexpected email or text message. Looking up the website from a paper statement or the back of a debit card is a more reliable starting point.
Use a strong, unique password for banking sign-in, separate from passwords used on other sites.
Never share sign-in details or one-time codes with anyone, including someone claiming to be from a bank or a money transfer provider.
Log out after using shared or public devices, rather than staying signed in.
Online banking and international money transfers
Online banking is often the starting point for an international transfer. Checking a balance, confirming account and routing numbers, and initiating a payment to fund a transfer can all happen through the same app or website already used for everyday banking.
Because scams involving fake bank or transfer notifications are common, it’s worth being cautious about any message asking for a sign-in through a link, rather than typing a bank’s web address directly or opening its official app.
For anyone managing money for family abroad through online banking, setting up alerts for account activity can help in noticing quickly if a transfer or automatic debit doesn’t go through as expected. Many banks offer this alert feature at no additional cost.
Security features worth confirming before you rely on online banking
Before regularly using online banking, confirming that a bank offers two-factor authentication and clear fraud alerts is worth doing, since both features meaningfully reduce risk if login credentials are ever compromised. Taking a few minutes to enable these protections when first setting up online access is considerably easier than dealing with unauthorized activity after the fact.
What to do if you can’t access online banking while traveling
While traveling internationally, some banks’ online banking systems flag unusual login locations as a security precaution, sometimes temporarily restricting access. Notifying a bank of international travel in advance, when this option is available, can help prevent an inconvenient lockout right when access matters most.
Setting up account alerts for added visibility
Most online banking platforms allow setting up custom alerts for a low balance, a large transaction, or a login from a new device, giving real-time visibility into account activity without needing to check manually throughout the day. Taking a few minutes to configure these alerts when first setting up online access adds an ongoing layer of awareness with little effort.
Why public Wi-Fi and online banking don’t mix well
Logging into online banking over public Wi-Fi, at a cafe or airport for example, carries more risk (opens in new window)than using a private, secured connection, since public networks are more easily monitored by others on the same network, making it worth waiting for a trusted connection when checking an account.
Common questions about online banking
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Is online banking safe to use?
Online banking is generally safe when accessed directly through a bank’s official app or website, using a strong password and staying cautious about unexpected links or messages asking for sign-in details. Most banks use multiple levels of security to protect an account, though staying alert to phishing attempts remains an important part of keeping information safe.
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What’s the difference between online banking and mobile banking?
Online banking typically refers to accessing an account through a web browser, while mobile banking specifically refers to using a dedicated banking app on a phone. Most banks offer both, with largely overlapping features, so the terms are often used interchangeably.
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Can I send an international transfer directly through online banking?
Some banks offer international wire transfer services directly through online banking, though the fees and exchange rates can vary. Many people instead use online banking to fund a transfer through a dedicated provider(opens in new window), which can offer more transfer options depending on where the money is headed, working with the same financial institution(opens in new window) they already bank with.
In Summary
Online banking puts everyday account management, and often the first step of an international transfer, directly in reach, without needing to visit a branch. Using it safely, through official apps and websites, with a strong password, and with a healthy skepticism toward unexpected links, protects both the account and the money being sent abroad.
This publication is provided for general information purposes only and is not intended to cover all aspects of the topics discussed herein. This publication is not a substitute for seeking advice from an applicable specialist or professional. The content in this publication does not constitute legal, tax, or other professional advice from Remitly or any of its affiliates and should not be relied upon as such. While we strive to keep our posts up to date and accurate, we cannot represent, warrant, or otherwise guarantee that the content is accurate, complete, or up to date.