Use the strongest sign-in method your bank supports. If it offers passkeys and you have a reliable way to recover access, choose a passkey: FIDO2/WebAuthn passkeys with user verification are designed to resist phishing. If passkeys are unavailable, an authenticator app is a useful alternative and avoids some risks of SMS or email codes—but a code you type into a website can still be stolen through a convincing fake login.
How passkeys and authenticator apps work
These methods protect a sign-in in different ways. A passkey uses a cryptographic key associated with your device or platform. An authenticator app typically generates a time-based, one-time passcode that you enter after providing your password.
Passkeys use verifier-bound authentication
FIDO2 passkeys use a cryptographic exchange that is tied to the legitimate website or service. NIST identifies WebAuthn, the technology used by FIDO2 authenticators, as an example of verifier-name binding: an impostor site should not be able to obtain a valid authentication response just by asking you to sign in. NIST classifies FIDO2 passkeys with user verification as phishing-resistant. NIST Special Publication 800-63B-4 describes the standard and its phishing-resistance criteria.
A passkey may be unlocked on your device with a PIN or biometrics. That is a device-unlock step; it does not mean your biometric data is sent to your bank. NIST’s consumer guidance on passkeys explains the basic model.
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Authenticator apps generate codes you enter
An authenticator app generates a short-lived verification code, commonly a time-based one-time password (TOTP). You copy or type that code into the bank’s sign-in page. Because the code is not bound to the specific website or login session, a scammer operating a fake bank page may capture it and relay it to the real bank before it expires. NIST therefore does not classify manually entered OTP codes as phishing-resistant. NIST’s authentication guidance explains verifier binding and OTP limitations.
Security comparison for banking
| Factor | Passkey | Authenticator-app code |
|---|---|---|
| Phishing resistance | FIDO2 passkeys with user verification are classified by NIST as phishing-resistant. | Not phishing-resistant when you manually enter the code; a fake site may relay it to the real bank. |
| Interception and account risks | Cryptographic authentication is tied to the legitimate service rather than a code you can hand to an impostor. | Safer than SMS or email codes in relevant ways: the FTC says app-generated codes are not vulnerable to SIM-card swaps or compromise of your email account. They can still be phished or relayed. |
| Device changes and recovery | Syncable passkeys may support use across devices and simpler recovery, depending on implementation and your platform account. | Access depends on how the app and bank handle device changes, backup, and enrollment; check both providers’ instructions. |
| Bank availability | Not established for any particular bank here; check the bank’s official security settings and help pages. | Not established for any particular bank here; check the bank’s official security settings and help pages. |
The FTC recommends authenticator apps as a safer alternative to codes sent by text or email, but cautions users not to share a verification code in response to an unexpected request. See the FTC account-protection guidance.
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Which method should you enable?
- Check your bank’s official options. Look in its security or sign-in settings and consult its help pages for enrollment and recovery instructions. Banks differ, so do not assume that a method is available just because your phone or computer supports it.
- If passkeys are offered, consider one first. Choose this option when you can keep the associated device or platform account secure and understand how you would regain access if a device is lost, replaced, or unavailable.
- If passkeys are not offered, use an authenticator app if the bank supports it. It avoids the SIM-swap and email-account risks associated with SMS and email codes, though it does not stop a real-time phishing relay.
- Keep the recovery route usable. Before changing or wiping a device, follow the bank’s instructions for adding a replacement sign-in method or recovering access. Do not rely on an automatic restore unless your bank and platform explicitly support it.
- Do not disclose codes to callers or messages. If a person or unexpected message asks you to read out a verification code, stop and contact the bank through a channel you independently know is official.
Device portability and recovery
Passkeys can be stored on a device or, in some implementations, synced through a platform account. NIST’s April 2024 supplement says properly implemented syncable authenticators such as passkeys can retain phishing resistance and may simplify recovery and cross-device use. That is general guidance, not a promise that your bank or device platform will restore a specific passkey automatically. Read the bank’s recovery instructions and protect the account used to manage synced passkeys. NIST’s supplement on syncable authenticators covers this approach.
Authenticator-app recovery varies too. Whether codes can be transferred or restored depends on the app’s features and the bank’s enrollment process. Check those instructions before replacing a phone; do not assume that reinstalling the app will restore access to every bank account.
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Where a hardware security key fits
A FIDO2 hardware security key is another phishing-resistant option where a bank supports it. CISA lists security keys among MFA methods and describes their strong phishing protection. It is an optional alternative, not a requirement for using passkeys. Confirm compatibility with your bank before buying a FIDO2 security key.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to do if your bank supports only weaker options
Enable the strongest option it offers, and turn on multifactor authentication if available. CISA recommends MFA for accounts that matter, including banking information. If the choices are SMS, email, or an authenticator app, prefer the app when available; if only SMS or email is offered, use it rather than leaving the account without an additional sign-in check, and stay alert for unexpected requests for codes. CISA’s MFA guidance explains why enabling an additional factor matters.
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