How mobile push authentication is redefining security in banking

Every digital interaction begins with trust, but that trust is getting harder to protect. As digital transactions grow, so do the risks. Banks and financial institutions face increasing pressure to protect customers from fraud while meeting tightening regulatory standards. At the same time, customers expect fast, frictionless experiences.

Mobile push authentication is emerging as the next generation of secure verification offering stronger protection, compliance readiness, and real-time fraud prevention.

It verifies sensitive actions directly through a brand’s mobile app, making it both more secure and convenient than traditional methods.

What is mobile push-based authentication?

Mobile push-based authentication verifies a user’s identity directly through a mobile app, removing the need to send one-time passwords (OTPs) over other channels like SMS, WhatsApp or email.

Here’s how it works:

1. User initiates a request: The individual attempts to log in, authorize a payment, or perform another sensitive action.
2. Push message is sent: The organization’s authentication server creates a secure verification request and delivers it to the user’s registered device through Infobip’s Mobile SDK.
3. User reviews details: The notification clearly displays information such as the action type, device, location, or timestamp.
4. User approves or denies: The user taps to approve if the request is legitimate or rejects it if it looks suspicious.
5. Access confirmed: The system validates the response in real time and either grants or blocks access accordingly.
    

This process ensures that every authentication request is bound to a verified device and cannot be intercepted or replicated, providing both security and convenience for customers across industries.  It’s faster, phishing-resistant, and typically cuts OTP delivery costs materially while improving completion rates.

Why banks are moving towards push-based authentication

Banks are modernizing their authentication frameworks for three key reasons: security, user experience, and compliance. Here’s how Push-based authentication works:

• Enhanced protection against modern threats: Push-based authentication prevents risks like SIM swapping, phishing, or malware interception because it verifies identity inside a secure app environment.
• Frictionless experience: Customers no longer have to switch apps or type codes. A single tap on a trusted notification completes the process in seconds.
• Regulatory readiness: Across the world, regulators are setting higher authentication standards.

The UAE case study

UAE banking is among the most digital in the world. With that growth comes a bigger attack surface and higher expectations from regulators and customers.

Recently, the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has mandated that banks phase out SMS, email and other channel OTPs for sensitive operations by March 2026. This shift reflects a global push toward device-bound, phishing-resistant authentication methods.

Following the CBUAE directive in banning OTP over SMS and email, leading banks in the UAE are already implementing push-based authentication.

Through Infobip’s SDK, you can bind devices securely, deliver instant verification flows, and meet compliance requirements without compromising user experience or adding extra cost.

Global banking adoption trends

The UAE joins a growing list of regions advancing authentication standards.

• Europe: PSD2 and Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) rules now require app-based, multi-factor verification.
• India: The Reserve Bank of India promotes app and biometric authentication for financial transactions.
• United States and Latin America: Many banks are piloting passkeys and mobile push verification to prevent phishing and account takeover.

These moves signal a worldwide consensus: customer trust starts with secure, seamless verification.

The benefits of mobile push-based authentication for banks

Banks implementing push-based authentication not only strengthen their security and compliance posture but also gain measurable improvements in customer experience, cost efficiency, and fraud response speed.

The result is a stronger, simpler authentication experience that builds confidence at every digital touchpoint.

Push-authenticate use cases in banking

Financial institutions are under constant pressure to balance convenience with compliance. Push-based authentication supports this by delivering secure, real-time approvals for:

Secure logins and account access: 

As customers move to mobile-first banking, securing login and access flows is critical. With push-based authentication, banks can verify identity in real time through a single tap inside their mobile app.

• When a user logs in from a new device or unusual location, a secure push notification is sent instantly.
• The notification includes login details (device name, location, timestamp) for review.
• The user confirms or denies the request within seconds using Face ID, fingerprint, or a secure app PIN.

This process strengthens login security without disrupting customer experience. It also significantly reduces fraud caused by credential stuffing or unauthorized account access.

Transaction verification and 3-D secure approvals:

• When a customer makes an online payment, the bank’s authentication server triggers a push message through Infobip’s SDK.
• The notification displays transaction details, merchant name, purchase amount, and timestamp.
• The user reviews and confirms in-app using biometrics or PIN.
• The approval is instantly verified by the bank’s authentication server and shared with the card network.

This approach improves completion rates for 3-D Secure transactions, eliminates phishing windows, and ensures compliance with regulatory standards.

Fraud detection and real-time alerts

Fraud prevention is not just about detection, it’s about enabling immediate customer action. With Infobip’s fraud prevention solution, banks can detect unusual behavior and instantly engage customers through push alerts:

• The fraud system flags suspicious activity, such as a login from a new region or a high-value transfer.
• A push notification appears: “We noticed an unusual login attempt, was this you?”
• The user can confirm or reject the attempt directly within the app.
• If rejected, the system automatically blocks the transaction and notifies the security team.

This real-time loop reduces false positives, minimizes fraud losses, and increases customer trust.

Device binding and new device enrollment: 

When customers change phones or reinstall the banking app, device binding ensures only verified devices can access accounts.

• During onboarding or first login on a new device, the app triggers a secure binding request.
• The user receives a push on their existing registered device to authorize the new one.
• Once confirmed, the new device is trusted for future transactions.

This prevents fraudsters from activating stolen credentials on new devices and ensures strong device identity control.

Use cases beyond banking

While banking remains the strongest use case, other regulated industries such as insurance, fintech, and public services are beginning to adopt push-based authentication to protect sensitive data and prevent fraud.

As digital ecosystems mature, this approach will become a key component of secure identity verification everywhere.

Public sector, healthcare, and insurance

Organizations handling sensitive citizen or patient data are also adopting push authentication.

• Government services: Citizens can securely verify identity for e-services without relying on SMS networks.
• Healthcare: Patients approve access to medical records or insurance claims securely within official apps.
• Insurance providers: Agents and policyholders verify high-value transactions and policy updates instantly.

Across sectors, the shift toward push-based authentication ensures trust and transparency while maintaining compliance with local data protection laws.

How Infobip enables secure, scalable push-based authentication

Infobip’s authentication and communication stack is built to deliver security, reliability, and orchestration at scale and our recognition by industry analysts reinforces it.

Seamless integration

• The Infobip Mobile SDK embeds directly into mobile apps, enabling secure delivery and device binding.
• It works with the bank’s existing authentication servers and core systems to validate transactions and approvals in real time.

Omnichannel reliability

Our platform ensures every verification message is delivered. If a user is offline or abroad, the system automatically falls back to WhatsApp or SMS to guarantee continuity.

Unified fraud prevention

Push authentication is part of our broader Fraud Prevention framework, which helps banks:

• Notify customers instantly across channels
• Automate fraud checks
• Escalate seamlessly to human agents through chat or secure in-app calling

This unified approach combines speed, security, and context, ensuring customers feel supported even in high-stress situations.

Industry validation you can trust

We were recently ranked as the number-one “Established Leader” in the Mobile Messaging Fraud Prevention Market by Juniper Research, outscoring 20+ vendors across capability, product strength, and market presence.

This recognition validates Infobip’s anti-fraud and anti-spam technologies, proving that our platform doesn’t just connect, it protects.

Final takeaway

The direction is clear: fraud prevention is no longer just about detection. It’s about orchestrating secure, seamless, and human-centered experiences across every touchpoint. When authentication, communication, and intelligence work together, fraud management becomes a trust-building advantage.

Our omnichannel conversational platform connects every channel including Mobile push, WhatsApp, SMS, email, and voice while ensuring that every critical message reaches the right person at the right time.

In addition, our technology integrates effortlessly with existing risk systems and customer journeys, allowing you to protect customers, meet compliance requirements, and accelerate digital growth. Security and scale no longer have to be a trade-off. With us, banks can achieve both.

FAQs about mobile-push authentication