To make a transfer or confirm other secure actions in online banking in Germany, you need a TAN procedure. TAN stands for transaction number. It is a one-time code you use to confirm an action — for example, a transfer.
In the past, banks used a paper list of codes or a small separate device. Today, most banks use pushTAN. With pushTAN, you receive a push notification — a short message that appears directly on your smartphone screen. You tap it to confirm the action. No paper, no extra device.
This guide walks you through setting up pushTAN in your banking app, step by step. It is easier than it sounds. Take your time. You cannot break anything by tapping the wrong button — you can always go back or cancel.
If you do not yet have a checking account with online banking, you can find an overview of accounts at /en/personal-accounts.
How to set up pushTAN
- Open your bank's banking app on your smartphone. This is the small icon with your bank's logo, usually found on your home screen.
- Log in to online banking with your login number and your password.
- Find the Security or Settings section in the app. It is often marked with a gear-shaped icon — a small circle with notches around the edge.
- Tap the menu item called TAN procedure or Set up pushTAN. If the exact wording is different, do not worry — look for similar words like "Security" or "TAN".
- Select pushTAN from the list of available TAN procedures.
- Enter your mobile phone number, if the app asks for it.
- Wait for the activation code. This is a one-time code your bank sends you by letter through the mail or by text message. It can take one to two business days.
- Enter the activation code into the field provided in the app.
- Choose a personal TAN PIN. This is a number, usually five digits, that only you know. Do not choose numbers others could easily guess, like your birth year.
- Enter the TAN PIN a second time to confirm it.
- Wait for the test message from your bank. The app will show you a push notification with a sample action.
- Tap the push notification, check the details shown, and enter your TAN PIN to confirm the test approval.
After these steps, you will see a confirmation: pushTAN is set up. From now on, you confirm transfers and other actions simply with a push notification and your TAN PIN — no paper list needed.
Important warning: how to protect yourself from fraud
Your TAN PIN and every approval push notification are strictly secret. Never share them with anyone else — not even over the phone, and not even if the caller claims to be from your bank.
A typical scam call sounds like this: "Hello, this is your bank's security department. We have detected a suspicious transaction. Please approve the push notification we are sending you now, so we can protect your account." This is fraud. Real banks never ask you over the phone to approve an action or read out a TAN.
The simple rule: hang up. Then call your bank yourself — using the phone number on the back of your bank card, not a number the caller gave you.
What to do if something goes wrong
If the activation code has not arrived after two business days, call your bank. Use the phone number on your bank card or your account statement.
If you enter the TAN PIN incorrectly several times, your access will be locked for security reasons. This is normal and nothing to worry about. Call your bank to have the lock removed.
If a screen looks different from what this guide describes, stay calm. Banking apps are updated regularly. Look for similar words and go one step at a time.