Did you just get a new phone? Your old smartphone might still be sitting in a drawer somewhere — and it may still be connected to your banking app. That is nothing to worry about. In this guide, we will show you, step by step, how to safely remove the old device from the list of connected devices. It only takes a few minutes, and you cannot break anything by following along.
A banking app is the small application on your phone that lets you manage your bank account — check your balance, send money, and more. Every device you have ever logged in with is usually kept in a list until you actively remove it. Removing your old smartphone from that list is important, so that no one but you can access your account through it.
Step by step: removing the old device
- Pick up your current smartphone — the device you use today.
- Tap the icon of your banking app. It is usually a small, colourful picture with your bank's logo, on your home screen.
- Log in as you normally would — for example with your PIN (a secret number code), your fingerprint, or your face.
- Look for the menu icon. It often looks like three short horizontal lines stacked on top of each other, or like a small person-shaped icon.
- Tap that menu icon.
- In the menu that opens, tap "Settings". This is sometimes marked with a small gear-shaped icon instead.
- In Settings, look for the word "Security" and tap it.
- Now look for an option such as "Devices", "Connected devices", or "Device management" and tap it.
- You will now see a list of every device you have ever logged in with. Find your old smartphone in this list — you can usually recognise it by its model name or by the date it was last used.
- Tap the entry for your old device to see more details.
- Look for a button with wording such as "Remove device", "Log out", or "Revoke access" and tap it.
- Confirm the removal. The app may ask you again for your PIN or for a one-time code sent by text message — this is an extra security check, not an error.
A one-time code is a short number sent to you by your bank via text message, to make sure it is really you taking this action. Only ever type this code into the banking app itself. Never read it aloud to anyone over the phone — even if that person claims to be calling from your bank.
Watch out for scam calls
Some scammers call and pretend to work for your bank. They might say something like: "We need to remove your old device for security reasons, please read us the code you just received by text." This is always a scam. Your real bank will never ask you for a text message code or your PIN over the phone. If this happens, hang up immediately. Then call your bank back using the phone number printed on the back of your bank card — never a number the caller gave you.
What to do if something goes wrong
If a screen looks different from what is described here, do not worry. Banks update their apps regularly. Go slowly, and look for similar words such as "Security", "Devices", or "Settings".
If you cannot find the list of connected devices at all, try the search function inside the app — often a small magnifying-glass icon — and type in "devices".
If you cannot log in to the app at all, for example because you have forgotten your password, use the "Forgot password" option on the login screen, or call your bank's customer service number. You can find this number on your bank card or on a genuine account statement.
Do you suspect someone else has access to your account — for example because you see an unfamiliar device in the list that is not yours? Call your bank immediately, using the number on your card, and ask them to block that access. Do not wait until the next day.
You can find an overview of personal accounts with a banking app at /en/personal-accounts.