First National Bank of Pennsylvania Adds More Security To Mobile App

First National Bank of Pennsylvania, the largest subsidiary of F.N.B. Corporation, announced on Monday (Sept. 26) it has introduced CardGuard, the latest upgrade to the FNB Direct mobile banking app.

CardGuard gives FNB customers real-time control over how their debit card is used, providing enhanced protection against fraud and improved budgeting support. FNB said in the press release it is one of the first banks in the country to fully integrate debit card control capabilities through its mobile banking app.

“With CardGuard, we are excited to offer consumers additional security and convenience with yet another distinct feature of the FNB Direct Mobile Banking app,” said Sam Kirsch, director of digital channels and payments for First National Bank, in the press release. “This is just the latest example of FNB’s overall corporate vision of investing in technology to improve the banking experience for our customers.”

According to the company, CardGuard provides additional protection against fraud, since customers are able turn their debit card “on” or “off.” When the card is “off,” no withdrawals or purchases will be approved, with the exception of previously authorized or recurring transactions. Additionally, transaction controls can be set according to location, meaning transactions attempted outside of the geographic parameters set by the customer will be declined. CardGuard also enables customers to better manage their spending by establishing limits for debit card purchases based on the amount of the transaction. Additional controls can be set to manage spending in different categories by enabling or disabling transactions for certain merchant groups, such as gas, grocery or retail stores. Customers using the app also get real-time alerts to notify consumers when their card has been approved or declined for a transaction. Customers can adjust their settings, including transaction controls and whether or not the card is set “on” or “off,” at any time via their mobile device.