Make the Most of Mobile Banking

Have you joined the movement to mobile banking yet? If not, you might be missing out on some amazing benefits and surprising convenience. According to a survey from the Federal Reserve , 43 percent of Americans with a mobile phone and a bank account reported using their device to conduct transactions online, with that number expected to continue growing. And it's never been easier to use mobile banking applications to check balances, transfer money between accounts, deposit checks and much more.

If you haven't made the foray into using your phone for basic banking needs, or you didn't know how to save even more time and money with your banking app, there's never been a better time than now.

Stay updated

Banking apps allow you to make better financial decisions by keeping you updated with real-time information on your account balances and transaction status. Before making a big purchase or withdrawing cash from an ATM, use your app to check your balance and ensure you have enough of a cushion. Most mobile bank services also let users enable alerts via text or email if their balance gets too low or when a deposit has been posted.

Deposit checks

With most mobile banking apps, there's no need to make a special trip just to deposit a few checks. It's now possible to use the camera on your phone to take a picture of the check and have it deposited into your account. Yep, it's really that easy. Just make sure you take the photo in a space with a clean background and plenty of light, and save the check for a few days to ensure it is deposited correctly.

Stay safe

Mobile banking apps are more secure than ever, but there are a few steps you can take to help make sure your funds and information stay safe when conducting business over the phone.

• Use a strong password that you aren't using on other online accounts.
• Set up text or email alerts to know if your account may have been accessed without permission.
• Avoid logging into your mobile account on a public wireless network that isn't protected with a password.
• Know who to contact if your phone is ever lost or stolen to keep online accounts secure.

Not all instances of cybercrime and fraud involve taking over someone's computer through malicious code. Personal data could be leaked into the world through no fault of your own. To help protect against that risk, it's possible to sign up for credit or identity monitoring services. These companies will use a number of strategies to alert customers if their credit card or Social Security number may have been used by an unauthorized person. Look into these services and set up appropriate alerts if you want to stay as protected as possible against digital intrusion.

Staying smart with online and mobile banking isn't difficult, and it makes saving time and money that much easier.