Mobile phone for banking purposes

TuppenceHapenny

Sorry if this is the wrong forum - wasn't sure if this question should go here or on the 'mobiles' forum.

I've never had a mobile phone and know very little about them, only ever had a landline phone. However, I'm increasingly finding I'm prevented from opening bank accounts paying interest/rewards because the application process requires a mobile phone number (not a landline) to be given or I'm finding an account requires a mobile app to be used to earn rewards (eg. RBS/NatWest current account?).

Therefore, I've decided to get a mobile just for banking purposes. I was intending to minimise the cost by getting a basic mobile (ie a dumb phone) and a PAYG sim (eg. Three PAYG sim?). If I do this will I be able to use banking apps on the phone or do I need a smart phone to be able to use the banking apps?

If I need a smart phone for the apps, will it make more sense to spend a bit more to get a smart phone instead of a dumb phone so I can get extra rewards some accounts provide for use of their banking app? How much do the cheapest decent smart phones cost (looks like I can get a suitable dumb phone for about £25 or less)?

Sorry for my lack of knowledge.

trickydicky14

Hi, yes if you want to use apps you need a smart phone.
You can pick one up from as little as £40 to £50.
Have a look on Amazon or Argos.

EssexExile

You need a decent smart phone for the apps, running an up to date operating system. I never use my phone for banking other than to receive OTP texts when doing banking on my pc, a dumb phone would be fine for that.

dr_adidas01

TuppenceHapenny said:

Sorry if this is the wrong forum - wasn't sure if this question should go here or on the 'mobiles' forum.

I've never had a mobile phone and know very little about them, only ever had a landline phone. However, I'm increasingly finding I'm prevented from opening bank accounts paying interest/rewards because the application process requires a mobile phone number (not a landline) to be given or I'm finding an account requires a mobile app to be used to earn rewards (eg. RBS/NatWest current account?).

Therefore, I've decided to get a mobile just for banking purposes. I was intending to minimise the cost by getting a basic mobile (ie a dumb phone) and a PAYG sim (eg. Three PAYG sim?). If I do this will I be able to use banking apps on the phone or do I need a smart phone to be able to use the banking apps?

If I need a smart phone for the apps, will it make more sense to spend a bit more to get a smart phone instead of a dumb phone so I can get extra rewards some accounts provide for use of their banking app? How much do the cheapest decent smart phones cost (looks like I can get a suitable dumb phone for about £25 or less)?

Sorry for my lack of knowledge.

You will need a smartphone as a dumb phone as you call it won’t allow you to install apps that are required to do online banking or anything app related. 

It depends on how much you want to spend they start from £50 upwards. If you buy a sim free phone you’ll be able to use any network sim of your choice. 

eskbanker

It'll need to be a smartphone to support apps.

There are some ultra cheap ones listed from about £40 at Argos, for example, but you'd need to check whether the cheapest of the cheap will actually run operating systems compatible with the banking apps you're interested in - someone posted on here recently that they had a cheap and cheerful Huawei phone that doesn't run Google Play, which in turn prevented access to banking apps....

David28

Make sure it isn't Android Go. I have a phone with android go and I cannot use it with HSBC banking app.
There are other apps that are "not compatible with this device" as well

jbrassy

TuppenceHapenny said:

I've never had a mobile phone and know very little about them, only ever had a landline phone. 

🤯 - mind blown!

London7766551

jbrassy said:

TuppenceHapenny said:

I've never had a mobile phone and know very little about them, only ever had a landline phone. 

🤯 - mind blown!

It is not as uncommon as people think. I know several people who don't have smartphones, one didn't even have internet until Covid started and he got it installed to stay in contact with people. Some are set in their ways.

evanescent

You could look at the likes of Nokia 1.3, Oppo A5 2020, Moto G8 Power Lite, or Honor 10 Lite. 
Also consider getting a refurbished phone instead of new, that will save you some money.
https://www.review-hub.co.uk/best-budget-phones-uk/

colsten

EssexExile said:

You need a decent smart phone for the apps, running an up to date operating system. 

The ability to run an up to date operating system is paramount. Buying something cheap and cheerful could be a waste of money.

This MSE Guide might help you with your choice: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/mobiles/mobile-phone-cost-cutting/

To be honest, though, I don't think you could make enough from banking offers which depend on mobiles to finance a decent mobile. You'd have to see other benefits in having a mobile - e.g. having your diary and all your contacts on it, use it to track your fitness, for Whatsapp or other chats, for Zoom, to pay (ApplePay / GooglePay), put your shopping list on it, use it as a camera, use it for electronic tickets, use it to read books and/or listen to music and radio, watch films, find recipes, check the weather forecast, use Google Maps to get directions, do your banking etc etc etc. The possibilities are endless. What value you associate with the possibilities is a personal decision.

Brewer20

London7766551 said:

jbrassy said:

TuppenceHapenny said:

I've never had a mobile phone and know very little about them, only ever had a landline phone. 

🤯 - mind blown!

It is not as uncommon as people think. I know several people who don't have smartphones, one didn't even have internet until Covid started and he got it installed to stay in contact with people. Some are set in their ways.

I had to help someone the other week, they'd had an android phone for a few years but didn't know how to send a text. Another couple have never had the internet and barely know how to use s mobile phone.
Motorola do a decent budget range of smart (Android phones) take a look on your usual sites as mentioned in the above posts.