6 Tips for Teaching the Elderly about Mobile Banking

The members of the millennial generation, who are often considered to be the most tech-savvy in the workplace, often find themselves serving as mediators between digital technology and their elderly family members. Since millennials grew up adapting to rapidly changing digital tools and systems, many naturally took on the role of technical assistants in their respective households.

This role comes with plenty of advantages. For one, handling the digital and mobile education of your parents and grandparents gives you every opportunity to help them develop safe mobile banking habits. You have every chance to equip them with the tools they need to stay safe and secure while managing their finances in a digital environment. This, however, does not diminish the fact that teaching your elderly family members how to bank online can be a challenge. To facilitate what could be a time- and energy-consuming process, here are some tips you can follow to make teaching easier and ensure that the seniors in your household are able to maximize the benefits of mobile banking.

Double Your Patience and Wear Your Teacher Hat

Teaching the people whom you looked up to as a child how to use mobile banking apps can be a bit jarring. After all, you’re probably not used to them giving you the reins. This reversal of roles can put your parents, uncles, aunts, or grandparents in a different light. There’s also a real chance that they won’t be able to follow your directions or memorize the steps you’ve provided as quickly as you expect them to, and this can test your patience. Be aware of this possibility and prepare for it in advance. This way, you can catch yourself when you’re about to lose your cool. If the session starts to become stressful, you can take a break and restart once you’re ready.

Choose User-Friendly and Easily Navigable Banking Apps

The mobile banking app that you choose can have an effect on how easily your senior family members will be able to pick up the lessons you’re trying to impart. A clunky and lag-prone app, for example, can frustrate users to no end and discourage them from using mobile banking channels. As such, before introducing mobile banking apps to the members of your family, test them first and see which offers the best user experience. A mobile app with a user-friendly interface can help you convince more family members to try mobile banking.

Build Your Student’s Confidence by Letting Them Practice

Just like kids, adults can also pick up a lot of information from experiential learning. It’s a good idea to let your students navigate the mobile banking app using their own devices. Of course, you can give them instructions and helpful tips on the side, but let them do the work. This will enable them to better remember the buttons and steps that they need to accomplish. Aside from improving recall, letting your senior family members practice under your direction will help them build their confidence and encourage them to try using the app on their own.

Demonstrate Exactly How Banking Apps Can Be Used Safely

Safety is a major concern for elderly people who are just beginning to shift to mobile banking. You can assuage their fears about completing mobile banking transactions by telling them how banks keep their information safe and secure. It’s also a good time to introduce the safety features that they should be using to prevent unwanted and unauthorized access to their bank accounts and funds. For example, you can help them put together a strong username and password or set up their biometric authentication. You can also talk about the kind of information that they should not discuss with strangers or over unsecured lines of communication.

Discuss Phishing and How to Avoid Being a Victim

Unfortunately, many phishers and scammers prey on the elderly. Prevent your family members from becoming victims by informing them of how criminals can gain access to their details and how they use emotional manipulation to coerce their victims to reveal sensitive financial information. If there are phishing incidents in the news, you can also talk about these specific instances to better illustrate how convincing some scams are. Then, teach them to look out for suspicious activities and what to do if they feel unsure about their financial transactions.

Maintain an Open Line of Communication 

Last but not least, keep communication lines open with your elderly family members even after they’ve mastered the use of mobile banking apps. At some point, the banking app will likely get updates, which can affect its functionality and user interface. Let your elderly family members know that they can get in touch with you in case something similar happens to their mobile banking apps or phones. Encouraging your family members to communicate with you if they encounter unfamiliar situations will also give you a chance to see if they’re dealing with suspicious individuals or organizations.

When the going gets tough, simply follow these tips so you can help your parents or grandparents understand the convenience and added security that mobile banking offers. With a bit of patience and consistency, you can ease your elderly family member’s transition to mobile banking and be assured that they can transact safely and securely.