Did you get a new smartphone and are wondering how to use your banking app on it again? A banking app is a small program on your smartphone that lets you check your bank account and transfer money without going to a branch. Setting it up on a new device sounds more complicated than it is. Just go through each step in order. You cannot break anything — if a screen looks different from what is described here, don't worry. Just go slowly and look for similar words.
Before you begin
Keep your old smartphone nearby if you still have it. Some banks ask you to confirm the new device using the old one. This is an extra security measure so that no one else can set up your app on a phone that isn't yours.
Download and open the app
- On your new smartphone, find the icon for the App Store — a program that is already installed and lets you download new apps. On an iPhone it is called the “App Store” and has a blue icon with a white “A”. On an Android device it is called the “Play Store” and has a colorful triangle icon.
- Tap the search field near the top — usually a white box with a magnifying glass icon.
- Type in the name of your bank.
- In the list of results, tap the app with your bank's logo.
- Tap the “Install” or “Get” button.
- Wait until the loading bar or spinning circle disappears. This means the app has finished downloading.
- Tap the new app icon to open the banking app.
Log in
- On the app's opening screen, tap “Log in” or “Sign in”.
- Enter your customer number or username — the same login details you already used on your old smartphone.
- Enter your password or PIN — this is the personal secret number that only you know.
- Tap “Next” or “Confirm”.
Confirm the new device
Because you are logging in from this new smartphone for the first time, your bank wants to make sure it is really you. This is called device verification. It usually works like this:
- Wait for a message with a confirmation code — this arrives either as a text message on your smartphone or as a notification inside the banking app on your old device.
- Open that message.
- Read the code — usually four to six digits.
- Enter the code into the field provided in the new app.
- Tap “Confirm” or “Activate”.
Important: This code is for you alone. No one from your bank will ever call you and ask for this code. If someone on the phone claims to be “from the bank” and asks you for this code, hang up. Then call your bank back using the phone number printed on the back of your bank card, just to be safe.
Set up fingerprint or face recognition (optional)
Many banking apps let you log in with your fingerprint or your face instead of a password — this is called biometric login. It is convenient, but not required.
- If asked, tap “Enable fingerprint” or “Enable Face ID”.
- Follow the instructions on the screen to save your fingerprint or face.
If you would rather skip this step, simply tap “Later” or “Not now”. You can always set it up afterward in the app's settings.
Deactivate the old device
If you are no longer going to use your old smartphone — for example because you are selling it or giving it away — you should deactivate the banking app on it. This way, no one else can use it to access your account.
- In the new app, open the settings menu — usually an icon with three lines or a gear shape.
- Find the section called “Devices” or “My devices”.
- Next to the old smartphone, tap “Remove” or “Deactivate”.
If you cannot find this section, don't worry. Simply delete the app from the old smartphone before passing it on, and call your bank to be safe, so they can remove the old device from their system.
What to do if something goes wrong
- The confirmation code does not arrive: Wait two to three minutes. Check that your smartphone has signal. If the code still does not arrive, tap “Resend code” in the app — this button usually appears below the entry field after a short wait.
- Your old device is no longer available — for example lost, broken, or already sold: Call your bank's customer service line. You can find the phone number on the back of your bank card or on the bank's official website. Staff can confirm your identity a different way.
- The new smartphone is not recognized, or the app crashes: Close the app completely and open it again. If that does not help, restart your smartphone once. Then check whether a newer version of the app is available in the App Store.
- You forgot your password or PIN: On the login screen, tap “Forgot password” and follow the instructions, or call your bank's customer service line. Never make up a new password for someone on the phone — always enter login details directly in the app or on the bank's official website.
When in doubt, it's always better to call your bank one extra time than to risk a mistake. Staff are used to helping with these questions.
Quick recap
You've done it. Your banking app is now ready to use on your new smartphone too.