Bank account alerts are one of the easiest ways to protect your money and stay on top of your finances. By enabling essential notifications — such as low balance, direct deposit, unusual activity and large withdrawal alerts — you can detect fraud quickly and avoid overdraft fees.

Today’s mobile banking apps make these alerts highly customizable, giving you control over how and when you’re notified so you can act before small issues become big problems.What is the purpose of setting up alerts in a mobile banking app?

Setting up notifications in your bank’s mobile app offers several benefits. These alerts help you spot unauthorized access to your account or debit card immediately, prevent costly fees from overdrafts or low balances and track your spending in real time. By monitoring your balance and transactions automatically, mobile alerts make it easier to stay on top of your finances.Types of online banking alerts

Most banks offer at least some alerts through their apps, which can be turned on or off as needed.

Here are nine online banking alerts to consider switching on.1. Low balance alert

Low balance alerts let you know when your bank account balance drops to a predetermined amount, which could be a pre-selected or customizable amount.

Depending on the bank, these alerts can come in the form of an email, text message or push notification — or all three. A low balance alert could be helpful for consumers nervous about racking up overdraft fees.2. Direct deposit alert

Direct deposit alerts can let you know when your paycheck hits your checking account, which can help in scheduling bill payments and budgeting. Many banks also offer similar alerts, such as when a deposited check clears your account.3. Unusual account activity alert

Another alert to consider setting up is one that notifies you when there’s a change in your account status that’s unusual. For example, a large amount of money transferred out of the account all at once could be concerning if that’s something that rarely happens. Large, stand-alone transactions are a red flag for fraudulent activity.

By signing up for an unusual account activity alert, you’ll immediately be made aware of any suspicious activity associated with your checking, savings or money market accounts.4. Large purchase alert

Depending on the bank, there may be an option to set alerts for when a large amount of money is spent at one time. Mobile app users may be able to specify a threshold for what they consider a concerningly large purchase. If you usually don’t spend more than $100 on any purchase on a given day, for example, you could set an alert for any transactions that are over $100. The alert can help ensure the purchase doesn’t go unnoticed, and speed up the process of investigation and reimbursement if the purchase was unauthorized.5. Large ATM withdrawal alert

Besides setting up a large purchase alert, consider opting for an alert when a big cash withdrawal takes place. That way, you’ll know instantly if money is taken from your account by someone else. Additionally, some banking apps may send alerts specifically when an account has exceeded the daily withdrawal limit. Withdrawals that exceed the limit could be a sign that someone else has access to your account. Otherwise, the alert will signal that you might be withdrawing too much cash at one time.6. Debit card alert

Debit card alerts can also be helpful for tracking purchases. The bank may be able to send notifications whenever any purchase is made with one or more of your debit cards. Alternatively, a debit card alert can be used to notify you when a transaction is declined or made in an unusual location, like another country. This feature, used in conjunction with card locks, makes it possible to quickly shut off access to your debit card to intercept fraud.

For those who are victims of bank fraud, it’s also worth checking your credit report for any unusual activity to ensure someone hasn’t opened a credit card in your name.7. Profile change alert

When it comes to digital banking, there’s a risk that personal data may be threatened by data breaches or scams. There are a number of ways to protect yourself from cyberattacks, such as changing account passwords and downloading identity theft-protection software. One easy way to stay on top of potential threats to your accounts — including password or username changes — is to opt for a profile change alert. This alert notifies you of any updated personal details and account suspensions as well, which can help detect suspicious activity and block accounts or debit cards before they’re used illegally.8. Upcoming payment alert (payment due alert)

Setting an upcoming payment alert could be useful for any payments you have that are scheduled or recurring. That might include things like recurring bills, loan or credit card payments or subscriptions.

Not only will this alert make you aware of money that’s about to be withdrawn from your account, it can also keep you in the loop for any recurring payments and subscriptions that you might have forgotten to cancel — or that you never signed up for in the first place. Perhaps you switched gyms but never canceled the old gym membership; an upcoming payment alert can serve as a reminder to cancel that recurring payment to the old gym.9. Peer-to-peer transfer alert

If you regularly send or receive money through peer-to-peer (P2P) payment services like Zelle, Venmo or PayPal, enabling a P2P transfer alert can help you keep track of these transactions in real time. This type of alert notifies you when money has been sent from or received into your account, allowing you to confirm legitimate payments and quickly spot any unauthorized transfers.Be aware of bank alert scams

It’s possible that some bank alerts might not be what they claim. Sometimes scammers may send an email or text message claiming to be from the bank. The scammers may send a fake bank alert through text or email (known respectively as phishing and smishing) requesting information from the account holder to authorize a transaction or fix a problem with the account, but really, they’re attempting to get your personal information for illegal use. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns that if a scam message asks for personal information, the scammer can gain access to your email accounts, bank accounts, credit cards and more. Some things to look out for in an alert that might signal a scam are:

•Requests that require giving out personal information, like Social Security or bank account numbers.

•The alert asks you to log into your account from a provided link.

•You’re asked to contact a phone number that appears to be your bank’s phone number. It may be someone posing as a bank representative.What to do if you receive a suspicious alert

According to the FTC, you should never give out any personal information through email or text messages. If an alert asks for account information or asks you to do something through the message, such as clicking on a link, that may be a sign that the alert is fraudulent. A real financial institution won’t ask for personal information by text or email. If the alert seems real, but you’re unsure, call or reach out to the bank through a contact listed on the bank’s website, rather than a contact provided by the alert. If the message turns out to be a scam, report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. It’s also usually possible to report messages through the messaging app or email server with a report spam or junk option.How to set up banking alerts

Setting up banking alerts through your mobile banking app or online portal will vary by bank, but is typically a straightforward process that can be completed in just a few simple steps:

•Login and navigate to settings: The settings or preferences section of the app is typically represented by a gear or cog icon and can usually be found in the menu or toolbar.

•Select alert preferences: Within the settings menu, locate the section that specifies alerts or notifications, with a label such as “Alert Preferences.”

•Customize settings: Depending on the bank, you’ll typically have a range of alert types to choose from. Select which alerts you wish to receive, and customize the settings to suit your preferences, such as by setting thresholds for balance notifications and specifying specific delivery methods (e.g. push notifications, SMS, etc.).

•Save your preferences: Take a moment to review your customizations, then confirm your selections to activate your alerts.

If you have trouble, you can always contact your bank’s customer service for assistance, using the number on the back of your debit card or on the bank’s official website.

If you’re interested in learning more about what to look for in your banking app, check out Bankrate’s article on the best mobile banking features.Frequently asked questions

• Which banking alert is the most important? The most important alert depends on your priorities, but a low balance alert is essential for avoiding overdraft fees, while an unusual activity alert is key for spotting fraud early. Many people enable both for maximum protection.“At a minimum, I’d urge people to enable alerts for large transactions, low balances, payment reminders and any login activity,” says Mark Hamrick, Bankrate senior economic analyst. “The latter is key to being aware of suspicious activity and stopping misbehavior before it causes a problem. If you aren’t certain what to do, reach out to your institution’s customer support to enlist their help.”

• Can I get notifications when money goes into my bank? Can I get notifications when money goes into my bank?Yes, alerts for recent deposits (including direct deposit) are generally available. They will let you know went your paycheck or other deposits have cleared.

• How do I set up bank alerts? Log in to your bank’s mobile app or online banking platform, go to the settings or “alerts” section to choose the notifications you want. You can also usually customize the delivery method (push notification, text or email) and set thresholds for certain alerts.

• Boosting your banking satisfaction For more information on how to protect your bank accounts, check out Bankrate's

• Pick a mobile banking winner Find an account that offers robust digital featuresKey takeaways

•Mobile banking alerts can help you prevent overdraft fees, detect fraud faster and keep better track of your spending.

•Essential alerts include low balance, direct deposit, unusual account activity and large transaction notifications.

•Always watch out for scam alerts — your bank will never request personal information via text or email.

©2025 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.