Using Your Bank's Mobile App to Check Balances, View Statements, and Deposit Checks

Most banks and credit unions offer a free mobile app that lets you manage your account from your phone. You can check your balance, see recent transactions, transfer money between accounts, pay bills, and deposit paper checks by taking a photo — without ever setting foot in a branch.

Mobile banking apps use encryption (a high-level form of scrambling) to protect your information while it travels between your phone and your bank's systems. They are generally considered safe to use, especially on your own personal phone on a secure home Wi-Fi connection.

To use your bank's app, you need your online banking username and password. If you have never set up online banking, you will need to do that first — usually by visiting your bank's website and clicking "Enroll" or "Register." Your account number and a piece of personal identification are typically needed.

The mobile deposit feature — depositing a paper check by photographing it — has a daily limit that varies by bank, typically between $1,000 and $5,000. After depositing a check by photo, write "Mobile Deposit" and the date on the front of the check, and keep it for at least a few weeks in case any questions come up.

Never use a banking app on public Wi-Fi (like at a coffee shop or airport). If you need to check your balance when you are out, use your phone's cellular data connection instead.

If you receive a text or email claiming to be from your bank and asking you to click a link, do not use the link. Go directly to your bank's app or type the bank's web address directly into your browser. Banks do not ask for your password through text or email.