Skip to main content
Personal
Business
Commercial
Log in to Personal Banking
The Co-operative Bank
or
Register

Protect yourself online

Staying safe online
Protect your identity
Protect your cards
Cyber security awareness training

Technology for staying safe online

Antivirus software

Antivirus software helps prevent viruses from accessing your devices and compromising your security. Installing antivirus software is one way you can reduce the risk of fraud and increase security.

Firewall

A firewall acts like a barrier and prevents potentially malicious software from accessing your device and the personal, sensitive and financial information stored in it.

Remember to keep your devices up to date

Many viruses are designed to exploit flaws in outdated software. So as well as installing and using antivirus and firewall software, it’s important to keep your device’s software up to date.

Protect your identity

We protect your identity in a number of ways, including encryption, verification and one-time passcodes. Never share your codes with anyone, not even us. We'll never ask you to disclose personal or sensitive information over the phone, by text or by email. So if anyone asks for those things, you know it's not us.

Protect your cards

There are a few simple steps you can take to protect your cards and lower the risk of fraud, such as never sharing or writing down your PIN, keeping your cards in a safe place when not using them, and shielding your PIN when making a payment.

Cyber security awareness training

We've collaborated with education provider BPP to create a free, 4-module course on cyber security awareness. Topics include cyber security basics, social engineering, phishing, malware and more. Each module should take around 15 minutes.

Launch cyber security modules

  • Only access online banking using 3G/4G/5G or a secure Wi-Fi connection. Public Wi-Fi might not be safe and could make your personal details vulnerable to criminal attack.
  • Avoid sending or receiving personal or financial information when using public Wi-Fi. These details could fall into the wrong hands.
  • If you access online banking using your mobile phone or tablet, we recommend you set up a secure password/passcode on your device and keep it locked when not in use.
  • Never store security details (e.g. PIN, passwords etc) on your mobile phone or tablet, in a way that could be understood by anyone else.
  • Limit the amount of personal information you share online.
  • Use strong passwords, which include a combination of symbols, letters and numbers.
  • Never share your passwords and use different ones for different accounts. Change them regularly to keep them as secure as possible. Please read our advice on how to use Third Party Provider (TPP) services safely.
  • Occasionally, we might guide you to our website via an email. You can check if an email is genuine with two simple steps. First, check if we used your first name. Second, check for the second part of your postcode at the top of the email. If both are there, it's likely to be a genuine email. If you’re still unsure, visit our website directly at www.co-operativebank.co.uk, and check for the key or padlock symbol and the prefix https:// at the top of your browser.
  • Be careful when clicking on links or opening attachments, especially if they’re unexpected emails, texts or social messages from an unknown sender. Don’t open attachments unless you are expecting them from a known sender.
  • Remember, The Co-operative Bank, the police or any other trusted organisation will NEVER ask:
    • for your security details in full
    • for your PIN, verification codes or token codes over the phone
    • to move money to a new, 'safe' account for any reason
    • ask to remotely access your computer, and 'secure' your online banking account.

Please read our advice on how to use Third Party Provider (TPP) services safely.

Not found what you're looking for?

Contact our support team

Visit a branch
Call us