How to Change Your Phone Number or Email Address in Your Banking App
Perhaps you got a new phone and with it a new phone number. Or perhaps you set up a new email address. Either way, your bank needs to know about it so everything keeps working smoothly. This might sound complicated, but it is not. This guide will show you exactly, step by step, how to update your contact details in your banking app. You cannot do anything wrong here — if you make a mistake, you can always go back and try again.
Why does this matter?
Your bank uses your phone number to send you important security codes — for example when you log into the app or confirm a transfer. Your bank uses your email address to send you account statements or important messages. If these details are no longer correct, you might stop receiving important messages — or worse, a stranger could end up with access to your old number. That is why it is important to always keep your details up to date.
What does "TAN" or "SMS code" mean?
A TAN is a short sequence of numbers that your bank sends you by text message or directly inside the app, to confirm an important change. TAN stands for "transaction number" — a technical term that simply means: a code that confirms it is really you making the change, and not someone else. You enter this code in the app when you are asked for it. Important: never tell this code to another person over the phone — not even if that person claims to be from your bank. Your real bank will never ask for it.
Step by step: how to change your phone number
- Open your banking app by tapping your bank's icon on your home screen.
- Log in the way you always do, for example with a PIN or your fingerprint.
- Find the menu — usually shown as three small horizontal lines or a circle with your initials, often in the top right or bottom of the screen.
- Tap this menu icon to open it.
- Look for the entry "Settings" or "Profile" — often marked with a small gear-shaped icon.
- Tap "Settings" or "Profile".
- Inside it, look for the section "Personal Details" or "Contact Details".
- Tap "Personal Details" or "Contact Details".
- You will see your currently saved phone number there. Tap on it, or on a pencil icon next to it, which stands for "Edit".
- Delete the old phone number using the backspace key on your keyboard.
- Enter your new phone number.
- Tap "Next" or "Save" to confirm your entry.
- Wait for a TAN — a confirmation code — to appear on your phone or arrive by text message.
- Enter this code into the field provided in the app.
- Finally, tap "Confirm" to complete the change.
Step by step: how to change your email address
The way to get there is almost the same as for the phone number — just with the email address instead of the number.
- Open the "Personal Details" or "Contact Details" section in the app's settings again.
- Look for your saved email address there.
- Tap on the email address, or on the pencil icon next to it.
- Delete the old email address.
- Carefully enter your new email address — pay close attention to the @ sign and any dots.
- Tap "Next" or "Save".
- Enter the TAN you receive by text message or inside the app here too.
- Tap "Confirm" to save the new email address.
- Afterwards, check your new email inbox — the bank often sends a confirmation message there that you need to click on once more.
What to do if something goes wrong
If a screen looks different from what is described here, don't worry. Every banking app is built slightly differently. Go slowly and look for similar words like "Contact Details", "Profile", or "Edit".
If the TAN does not arrive, wait two to three minutes first. Check whether your phone has signal. If the code still does not arrive, cancel the process and start it again later.
Very important: never call a number given to you in a text message or email to "confirm the change". Such messages often come from scammers. A well-known trick sounds like this: you receive a call, supposedly from your bank, asking you "for security reasons" to read out the code you just received over the phone. Never do this. Your real bank will never ask for your TAN code over the phone. Hang up and call your bank using the number printed on the back of your bank card.
If you feel unsure at any point during the change, you can cancel the process at any time by tapping the back arrow or the "X" icon at the top of the screen. Nothing is lost by doing this.
Summary — the key points at a glance
If you are already thinking about a new, easy-to-use account with a good app, you can calmly compare offers for checking accounts.