How Online and Mobile Banking Can Save You Time

Key takeaways

• Online and mobile banking let you handle nearly every routine banking task from a phone or laptop, including deposits, transfers, bill pay, and account alerts.
• The time savings show up in the small stuff: check deposits that used to mean a branch trip, transfers that used to mean a phone call, alerts that catch problems before you notice them.
• Both channels use bank-grade encryption and biometric or multi-factor login, and a few habits on your end make them meaningfully safer.
• You can open a checking account fully online in most cases, with a few basics on hand — an ID, your Social Security number, and a phone or computer.

If you've ever left work early to make it to the bank before it closes, or waited on hold to move money between two of your own accounts, you already know why online and mobile banking caught on. Most of what used to take a trip or a phone call now takes a tap.

Online and mobile banking are the everyday tools that make that possible, and once they're set up, they mostly disappear into the background of your day.

What online and mobile banking actually let you do

Online banking is what you do through a web browser at 53.com. Mobile banking is what you do through the Fifth Third Mobile Banking App on your phone or tablet. Same account, same access, different device.

Between the two, you can:

• Check balances and recent transactions
• Deposit checks by phone camera
• Transfer money between your accounts
• Send money to other people
• Pay bills and schedule recurring payments
• View statements and switch to paperless
• Set up alerts for low balances, large purchases, or unusual activity
• Lock and unlock your credit card if it goes missing
• Open new accounts

There's still a short list of things that need a branch or ATM. It's mainly cash withdrawals, cash deposits, cashier's checks, notary services, and safe deposit boxes. Everything else can be done online if you prefer.

Where the time savings really add up

The time you save online isn't in one dramatic moment. It's in the trips you don't make.

Mobile check deposit. Snap a photo, tap submit, done. What used to be a lunch break is a minute at the kitchen table.

Bill pay and scheduled transfers. Set a recurring payment once and it runs itself. No more remembering which bill hits when — which is one less thing to keep track of when you decide where your direct deposit should land.

Real-time alerts. Instead of checking your balance five times a day, set an alert that pings you when something changes. Alerts also catch fraud earlier. The sooner you see an unfamiliar charge, the faster you can shut it down.

Sending money to people. Rent to a roommate, dinner to a friend, a payment split at the table: Zelle^® moves it in minutes. No cash, no check, no envelope.

Managing statements and documents. Everything's searchable in one place. When tax season comes around, you're not digging through a drawer.

How to keep your accounts secure online

Banks put serious money into security, but the account is only as safe as the habits around it. A few practical things help, and many of the same rules apply when shopping online:

1. Use strong, unique passwords for every financial account. If one site gets breached, you don't want the same password unlocking your bank. A password manager makes this workable.
2. Turn on multi-factor authentication. That second code — texted, emailed, or from an authenticator app — is what stops most account takeovers, even when someone has your password.
3. Use biometric login where it's offered. Face or fingerprint login on your phone is faster and harder to fake than typing a password.
4. Skip banking on public Wi-Fi. If you're on the go, use your cellular connection or a trusted VPN. Coffee shop networks are convenient targets.
5. Keep your phone and computer software up to date. Updates aren't just new features. Most of them patch security holes.
6. Watch for phishing. Fifth Third won't text or email asking for your password, PIN, or a one-time code. If a message asks, it's not us.

Getting started with online and mobile banking

If you already have a Fifth Third account, you're a few minutes from set up. If you don't yet, it's worth thinking through a few questions before opening a new one: fees, minimums, and what mobile features come standard.

To enroll in online and mobile banking with an existing account:

1. Download the Fifth Third Mobile Banking App from the App Store or Google Play, or go to 53.com.
2. Choose "Enroll" or "Sign Up."
3. Verify your identity with your account or debit card number, Social Security number, and date of birth.
4. Create a username and password.
5. Enable biometric login on your phone if you'd like a faster sign-in with an extra layer of security.

If you don't have an account yet, you can open one online without a branch visit. You'll need a government-issued ID, your Social Security number, an email address, and a phone with a camera to verify your ID. Not sure whether you need a checking account, a savings account, or both? Start with checking vs. savings basics.

Bottom line

The best online and mobile banking tools disappear into the background of your day. You're not "logging in to bank" — you're paying rent, splitting a dinner, catching a suspicious charge before it grows. That's what the time savings buy you: your finances get easier, so you can spend the time on something else.