Banking without a mobile, possible?

redux

My mother doesn't do internet

Lloyds and Halifax have the option to be rung on a landline or mobile number to enter or speak code number shown in website

Since we set up power of attorney - which the bank said was the more official way of me doing her online banking - there is also the option to send SMS to my mobile number

At a couple of others places we pretend that one of my standby mobile numbers is hers.

At a new building society regular saver, I asked whether she could give the same mobile number as me, so two account holders would have same details. No. So for a couple of days I thought oh I should have set her up before me. Then I phoned about no log-in SMS coming to me for my account, and they said it could be switched to sent by email. So she now has an account there too.

GeoffTF

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82177064#Comment_82177064

There are indeed many people who cannot cope with a smartphone. There is wide range of dumb phones with big screens, but I do not know which ones are the best.

Eco_Miser

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82177139#Comment_82177139

Lloyds and Halifax have the option to send a spoken code to the landline number

Do they? TSB does that, but Lloyds displays a code onscreen which you enter into the phone when it rings, or at least that's how it used to be - I've not needed to have an OTP from them for quite a while.

elsien

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82176546#Comment_82176546

OP would appear to be confused then because Natwest also have the card reader option instead of using a mobile.

Natwest card reader

Chief_of_Staffy

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82177301#Comment_82177301

That's only as a final resort option for login, not purchases. You can't use your card reader to authorise a purchase.

Chief_of_Staffy

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6687613/banking-without-a-mobile-possible

That's exactly what's happening, yes. So the answer to your question is yes, you have to have a smartphone to bank. You may possibly find some bank that allows you to do things the 'old fashioned way' (i.e. the way that worked) but next year they'll fall in line so you're just delaying the inevitable.

eskbanker

Perhaps worth reiterating what the FCA said when strong customer authentication was introduced, and which still appears in their current guidance document, most recently updated in May 2026:

20.22 We expect firms to develop strong customer authentication solutions that work for all groups of consumers and we encourage firms to consider the impact of strong customer authentication solutions on different groups of customers, in particular those with protected characteristics, as part of the design process. It may be necessary for a PSP to provide different methods of authentication, to comply with their obligation to apply strong customer authentication in line with regulation 100 of the PSRs 2017. For example, not all customers will possess a mobile phone or smart phone and payments may be made in areas without mobile phone reception. PSPs must provide a viable means to strongly authenticate customers in these situations.

https://www.fca.org.uk/publication/finalised-guidance/payment-services-electronic-money-approach.pdf

elsien

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82177338#Comment_82177338

I’m pretty sure that you can. It isn’t just for logging in, you can use it to set up direct debits and standing orders, but you also use it to authorise new payees.

If I remember correctly, it is the same as Nationwide where you choose what method of authentication you want when you come to make the payment. Card reader being one of the options..

Chief_of_Staffy

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82177399#Comment_82177399

You can use it within Online banking but nowhere else. So if you make a purchase with your card, you can't confirm it with your card reader.

redux

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82177198#Comment_82177198

Apologies, you're correct, it seems I was thinking of two things at once, or back to front. The user is called and can type or speak the code shown. I've changed my post