How to set up a standing order for recurring payments in your banking app
Do you pay your rent or other fixed amounts by hand every month, over and over again? You can save yourself that work. With a standing order, your bank's app transfers the same amount automatically, every month, without you having to do anything yourself. In this guide we will show you step by step how to set up a standing order. It is easier than it sounds. And don't worry: you cannot break anything just by tapping. You confirm everything once more at the very end.
Basic terms explained simply
A standing order is an instruction to your bank to transfer the same amount to the same recipient on a regular basis. You set it up once, and after that it keeps running by itself — for example, every month for the rent.
This is different from a one-time transfer. With a one-time transfer, you send the money exactly once. With a standing order, the transfer repeats automatically until you change or delete the order yourself.
You will see two more terms while setting it up. The frequency determines how often the payment is made, for example once a month. The start date is the day on which the first payment should take place.
What to have ready beforehand
Have the recipient's name ready, for example your landlord, as well as their IBAN. The IBAN is the long account number that starts with DE and is made up of letters and numbers. You will find it, for example, on your rental agreement or on an invoice. Also think about how much money you want to pay regularly and from which date the payments should start.
How to set up a standing order — step by step
- Tap the icon of your bank's app on the screen. An icon is a small colourful picture with your bank's logo.
- Log in by entering your access code — that is your personal password for the app.
- Wait a moment until your account overview appears. That is the home page showing your balance.
- Look for the section called Payments or Orders. Depending on the bank, it is sometimes also called "Payment services".
- Tap this section.
- Look inside it for the menu item New standing order.
- Tap New standing order.
- In the Recipient field, enter the name of the person or company that should receive the money regularly.
- In the IBAN field, enter the recipient's long account number. Check every digit calmly.
- In the Amount field, enter how much money should be transferred regularly, for example 650.00 for the rent.
- Under Frequency, choose how often the payment should be made, for example "monthly".
- Under Start date, set when the first payment should take place, for example the first day of next month.
- Tap Next or Review.
The last step: confirming the standing order
Now the app shows you a summary. That is an overview with the recipient, IBAN, amount, frequency and start date. Read through everything calmly. Is the amount correct? Is the date correct? Only when everything is right should you confirm the standing order.
To confirm it, the bank needs proof that you really want to set up this standing order. This proof is called a TAN or approval. It is a one-time number or a one-time tap that is valid for this order only.
- Follow the instruction on the screen. Often the approval appears directly in a second app from your bank.
- Confirm the approval — usually by tapping a button such as Approve, or by entering the one-time number.
- Wait until a green confirmation or a tick appears. Then the standing order has been set up.
Well done. From now on, your bank will transfer the amount all by itself, always at the same time.
What to do if something goes wrong
If a screen looks different from what is described here, please don't panic. Every bank designs its app a little differently. Go slowly and look for similar words such as "Standing order" or "Recurring payment".
Did you make a typing mistake in a field before confirming? Then simply cancel and start again. As long as you have not confirmed it, no standing order is set up. So you cannot do anything wrong.
Have you already confirmed the standing order and noticed a mistake, for example a wrong amount? No problem: you can change or delete any standing order later in the same section. Look for the relevant entry in the overview of your running standing orders.
Very important for protection against fraud: never give out a TAN over the phone. Scammers sometimes call and pretend to be your bank. They might say: "Good day, this is your bank, we need to check a standing order for you, please tell me your TAN." A real bank will never ask you for your TAN. In such a case, hang up. Then call your bank back yourself, using only the number printed on the back of your bank card.
If you are unsure about a step, it is best to call your bank directly instead of trying further on your own.
Summary — your checklist
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