Is it safe to pay bills online?
Online bill pay can be a safe and convenient way to manage your finances, and paying your bills online can actually be more secure than paying them in person or through the mail.
Online bill payments are secure: Mailing checks comes with the risk of a check getting stolen or lost in the mail. Though there's still a risk of cybercrime, online bank accounts have measures in place to protect transfers of funds.
Online bill paying can be an expensive component to online banking as some companies will charge fees (See Online Banking Fees). If you've set up automatic bill payment and need to stop those payments, the process can take a while.
Debit and credit cards
Not only are they quick and easy to use, but they offer a relatively high level of security and protection of your private data. If you're using a credit card, you don't actually pay for the goods or services until your credit card bill is due.
Short answer: Yes. Online banks are some of the safest places to store your money. In many ways, they're similar to traditional brick-and-mortar banks. But it's important to follow standard web best practices when banking online.
- Virtual credit cards. ...
- Digital wallets. ...
- Prepaid cards. ...
- ACH payments. ...
- Cryptocurrency.
Automatic or direct debit
Makes it easy to pay for bills that are frequent and consistent. Reduces chance of being late— once you set it up, it is automatic. You have the right to end automatic payments.
Over-the-phone payments can be more prone to fraud than those made in person or online, but there are steps you can take to protect yourself.
Credit cards use online security features like encryption and fraud monitoring to keep your accounts and personal information safe. Most issuers also offer zero fraud liability to ensure you won't be on the hook for a cent for fraudulent transactions charged to your credit card.
Unfortunately, not always—using debit cards online may come with inherent risks. According to a 2020 report by Mercator Advisory Group, one fourth of consumers reported instances of debit card fraud. Out of all the payment cards sold on the dark web, around 52% were debit cards, according to a 2021 research report.
Is it safer to pay bills with a credit card or debit card?
Paying with a credit card not only provides you with an extra layer of security compared to a debit card, but rewards you with cash-back, redeemable points or travel miles. Some credit cards also have welcome bonuses in addition to other ongoing perks.
ACH payments go through clearinghouses that enforce strict regulations, making it a secure payment method. ACH also typically offers lower fees because it's all digital and eliminates many of the processing fees associated with cards or checks.
Payments with a debit card are taken instantly from your checking account and shopping online comes with the added risk that your information may be stolen. Using a debit card opens up the possibility that the thief will gain access to the funds in your checking account.
| Bank | Forbes Advisor Rating | Learn more CTA below text |
|---|---|---|
| Chase Bank | 5.0 | Read Our Full Review |
| Bank of America | 4.2 | |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 4.0 | Read Our Full Review |
| Citi® | 4.0 |
Don't use your account and routing numbers to shop online.
Ideally, use a credit card because they offer more protection than a debit card. Just be sure to pay your bill in full before the due date to avoid interest charges.
Cons of online banks:
You are more likely to incur ATM fees if the online bank has no ATM network or is part of a small network. You can't deposit cash unless the bank is linked to ATMs that accept cash. Check deposits, done online or on a mobile app, may take longer to process. They aren't a good fit for everyone.
- Understand your PCI compliance requirements. ...
- Encrypt data with TLS. ...
- Implement 3D Secure 2. ...
- Multi- or Two-Factor Authentication. ...
- Require Card Verification Value (CVV) ...
- Use payment tokenization. ...
- Ensure your website platform is secure. ...
- Implement a fraud detection tool.
1. Credit cards. The most familiar form of online payment is also one of the most secure payment methods. Credit card transactions are encrypted, which means the details are jumbled up and encoded.
Money transfer apps are inexpensive and convenient options for paying family and friends. Wire transfers at a bank are ideal for securely sending large amounts domestically or internationally.
Gather your bills, including account numbers and the addresses to where you mail the payments. Enter each biller's information into your bank's online bill pay platform, or choose them from a list provided by your bank. Choose when to send the payment. Select a recurring or one-time payment.
Do most people pay bills online?
Of the many bills Americans pay on a regular basis, nearly three-quarters or more pay their phone, internet, utilities and credit cards online or through a mobile device. These trends have been inching upward steadily since 2020. For example, while 66% paid their phone bill online in 2020, that number is now 78%.
You should also use your checking account to pay bills in the following situations: Your provider charges a fee for paying by credit card. In most cases, you'll pay more in credit card convenience fees than you'll gain in card rewards and perks for using a credit card.
So, is Mobile Banking Safer than Online Banking? Whether you choose mobile banking or online banking, you can be confident that your bank has invested in the security of these services. However, mobile banking is a little safer when it comes to security, mainly because this type of banking does not store any data.
For this reason, credit cards are considered safer to use online because funds aren't directly taken out of your accounts. Using a credit card provides peace of mind so you don't have to worry about your entire checking account being drained if it's hacked or becomes compromised.
Most banking apps offer a bevy of features meant to protect your sensitive information and identity that traditional banking websites might not. Some of these cybersecurity measures include: Encryption: Most mobile banking apps encrypt, aka disguise, sensitive data like login information and bank statements.
