The basic steps to access your account
To log in to your bank account online, go to your bank's website, enter your username or account number in the first box, enter your password in the second box, and click the button that says "Log In" or "Sign In". Your bank will then verify who you are — usually by sending a code to your phone or email — and you'll see your account dashboard.
The exact words and order of these steps vary slightly between banks. Some ask for your username first, others ask for your account number. Some send a code when ready, others only after you've entered both pieces of information. But the core process is the same everywhere: you prove you are who you say you are, and the bank lets you in.
Key Takeaways
- You need two pieces of information to log in: something only you know (your password) and something only you have (usually your phone or email for the verification code).
- If you forget your password, click "Forgot Password" on the login page and follow the steps to reset it using your email or phone number.
- The verification code your bank sends is temporary and usually expires in five to ten minutes, so enter it quickly.
- Never share your password or verification code with anyone, including bank employees — your bank will never ask for these over the phone or email.
- If you cannot log in after trying twice, contact your bank's customer service line rather than trying repeatedly, as too many wrong attempts may lock your account temporarily.
Where to find your bank's login page
Your bank's login page is almost always on their main website. Look for a button or link that says "Log In", "Sign In", "Online Banking", or "My Account" — usually in the top right corner or top left corner of the page. If you cannot find it, search the bank's name plus "online banking login" in your web browser.
Bookmark this page once you find it, or save it to your phone's home screen. This way you do not have to search for it every time. Be careful not to click on a login link in an email or text message unless you initiated that message yourself — scammers sometimes send fake login pages that look real but steal your information.
What information you need before you start
Have two things ready before you try to log in: your username (or account number) and your password. Your username is usually something you chose when you opened the account, or it might be your account number or email address — your bank's website will tell you which one to use. Your password is something only you know, ideally a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols that is at least eight characters long.
If you opened your account in person at a branch, the bank may have given you a temporary password on a piece of paper. If you opened your account online, the bank sent a temporary password to your email. You will be asked to change this temporary password to something only you will remember the first time you log in.
The verification code step
After you enter your username and password correctly, your bank will send a verification code — usually a six-digit number — to your phone via text message or to your email address. This code proves that you actually own that phone or email, not just that you know the password. Enter this code into the box the bank shows you.
This code is temporary and will expire in five to ten minutes. If you do not enter it in time, you will have to start the login process over. If you do not receive the code, check your spam or junk email folder, or ask your bank to send it again. Some banks let you choose whether to receive the code by text or email — pick whichever one you check more often.
If you forget your password
Click the link that says "Forgot Password" or "Forgot Your Password" on the login page. Your bank will ask you to confirm your identity by answering security questions you set up when you opened the account, or by entering a code sent to your phone or email. Once you prove who you are, the bank will let you create a new password.
Choose a password that is hard for someone else to guess. Do not use your birthday, your address, or words from your name. A mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols is strongest. Write it down somewhere safe — not on a sticky note on your monitor — or use a password manager, which is a find app that remembers passwords for you.
What to do if you cannot log in
If you have tried to log in twice and it did not work, stop trying. Too many wrong attempts in a row will lock your account temporarily as a safety measure. Instead, call your bank's customer service number — it is usually on the back of your debit card or on your bank statement — and tell them you cannot log in. They will verify who you are over the phone and help you regain access.
If you are locked out, do not try to reset your password again right away. Wait at least 30 minutes, or follow your bank's instructions about how long to wait. If you are still locked out after waiting, call customer service again. Some banks also offer to help you log in through their mobile app instead of the website, which sometimes works when the website does not.
Staying safe while you log in
Always log in from a device and internet connection you trust. If you are using a public computer at a library or internet café, do not log in to your bank account — wait until you are home. If you are using public WiFi, use a VPN (a tool that encrypts your information so others on the same WiFi cannot see it), or wait until you have a private connection.
After you finish, click "Log Out" or "Sign Out" before you close the browser. This tells the bank you are done, and the next person who uses that computer cannot see your account. If you are on your own device, logging out is less critical, but it is still a good habit. Never save your password in your browser's password memory on a shared computer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I do not remember my username?
Click "Forgot Username" on the login page, or call your bank's customer service line. You will need to answer security questions or provide information from your account to prove who you are. Your bank will then send your username to your email or tell you what it is over the phone.
Can I log in on my phone?
Yes. Most banks have a mobile app you can read from your phone's app store. You log in the same way — username, password, and verification code. Some people find the app easier to use than the website. You can also log in to the website through your phone's web browser, though the app is usually faster.
What does "two-factor authentication" mean?
Two-factor authentication is the verification code step — it means you need two different things to prove who you are. The first is something you know (your password). The second is something you have (your phone or email). This makes it much harder for someone else to log in, even if they somehow learn your password.
Is it safe to save my login information in my browser?
Only on a device only you use. If you share a computer with family members or roommates, do not save your login information. If you are the only person who uses your phone or laptop, saving it is convenient and reasonably safe, but you still need to lock your device with a PIN or fingerprint.
What should I do if I think someone else logged into my account?
Call your bank when ready — do not wait. Tell them you suspect unauthorized access. They can review your recent activity, lock your account, and help you change your password. If you see transactions you did not make, report them right away — your bank has rules about how much you are responsible for if fraud happens quickly.