Points to remember when logging in

When logging into your e-banking facility, you have to enter sensitive and private details (for instance your password). This is how to do so in a secure manner.

Securely navigate to your financial institution website

To avoid falling victim to a phishing attempt, you should make sure that you are actually connected to your financial institution before logging into your e-banking facility.

To do so, always enter the address for your financial institution’s e-banking page manually via the browser address line. Never use any links you were sent, e. g. via e-mail or SMS, and no search engines such as Google, Bing or similar either!

We also recommend to only ever use your e-banking facility on a familiar and secure device (“5 steps for your digital security”)  (i.e. don’t use any public devices in a hotel, etc.).

Check that the connection is secure

Since you have to enter sensitive and private details (for instance your password) to log in, you have to use a protected connection to your financial institution.

An TLS/SSL connection which has been correctly established with the proper website and which is based on an authentic and valid certificate - i.e. a secure connection - can be recognised by the following three clear browser characteristics:

1. A lock symbol in the address line
   This connection was encrypted using a valid SSL certificate.
2. The correct financial institution’s name (this is either displayed next to the lock or after clicking the lock, under “Issued for”)
   The identify of the certificate owner (the bank) has been confirmed.
3. Correct domain name in the address line
   You are actually on the financial institution’s website.

 

You can read up here how to check the certificate.

Note: Some financial institutions offer a specific program (software, e. g. a hardened browser) for accessing their e-banking facility. This allows for some additional security checks (e. g. certificate checks) to be run. Depending on the software used, the above two actions “Securely navigate to your financial institution website” and “Check that the connection is secure” are then irrelevant, or you may not even be able to perform them.

Caution in case of system disruptions or unusual errors messages

If there is a system interruption while logging into your e-banking facility (for instance a white screen suddenly appears), or if there are any unusual error messages, (for instance “The system is currently overloaded. Please be patient and try again a bit later”), you should immediately terminate the connection and notify the support/help desk of your financial institution.

A detailed description of respective log-in procedures for your e-banking facility can also be found here: