Bank details in screenshots: how to keep them safe

A bank details screenshot is safe to send only when it shows what the other person needs to pay you, such as your name and account number, and nothing else. Never include your balance, card security code, sign-in details or one-time codes. Keep any bank screenshots you need in a locked folder, and delete the rest once the payment is done.

Which bank details are safe to share?

Not all bank information is equally sensitive. It helps to sort it into three groups.

Usually fine to share with someone paying you

• Your name as it appears on the account.
• Your account number and bank code, such as a sort code, IBAN or routing number, depending on where you live.
• A payment reference, such as an invoice number.

People need these to send you money. Even so, share them only with people and businesses you trust, because they can be misused in scams when combined with other personal details.

Share only when there is a clear reason

• Your bank's name and branch.
• Your address.
• Partial card numbers, such as the last four digits.

Never share

• Online banking usernames, passwords or PINs.
• One-time passcodes sent by text or shown in your banking app.
• Your card's full number, expiry date and security code.
• Your balance and transaction history.

A real bank will not ask you to send screenshots of codes or passwords. Anyone who does is almost certainly trying to scam you.

Why a bank details screenshot often shows too much

Banking apps are designed to show you everything in one place. When you take a screenshot to share your account number, you may also capture your balance, recent payments, other accounts and your card details. A screenshot sent to a buyer, landlord or friend may then be forwarded or stored in places you never see.

There is also the risk of what stays on your own phone. Old bank screenshots sitting in your gallery can be seen by anyone who picks up your phone, by apps with photo access and by automatic cloud backups.

How to share bank details more safely

1. Ask yourself if you need a bank details screenshot at all. Typing your account number in a message, or using your banking app's own "share details" button, often shares less.
2. If you use a screenshot, open the simplest screen. Many banking apps have an account details page that shows only the number and code.
3. Crop out everything else. Balance, transactions, other accounts and menus should not be in the image.
4. Cover what you cannot crop. Use a solid box in your phone's markup tool, not blur.
5. Send directly. Share with the person who needs it, not in a group chat.
6. Delete it afterwards. Once the payment arrives, remove the screenshot from your gallery and, if you can, from the chat.

Watch for scams that use screenshots

Screenshots are common in payment scams, in two directions.

• Fake payment proof. A buyer sends a screenshot showing they have paid you. The image is edited or fake. Always check your own banking app before handing over anything. Our guide on payment confirmation screenshots covers this in more detail.
• Requests for your banking screens. Someone poses as your bank, a delivery company or a prize service and asks for a screenshot of your banking app "to verify your account". Do not send it. Contact your bank through its official app or phone number instead.

Where to keep bank screenshots you need

Sometimes a bank details screenshot is worth keeping, such as proof of a large payment or a change of account details from your employer. Keep them out of the open gallery.

• Move them to a locked folder. See how to hide private screenshots on Android for options.
• Name them clearly so you can find them without opening each one.
• Review them every few months and delete what is no longer needed.

Card details deserve the same care. Our guide to hiding card numbers before sharing shows how to cover them properly, and the checklist before you share any screenshot catches the other details that slip in.

How Screenshot Brain helps

Screenshot Brain has a hide-private-details tool that finds and covers bank numbers, card numbers, phone numbers and emails before you share a screenshot. Payment confirmations are labelled automatically so you can find them, and you can lock sensitive bank screenshots in a private folder with your PIN or fingerprint. The text is read on your phone, not uploaded.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to send my account number in a screenshot?

It is generally fine to share your name and account number with someone who needs to pay you. Crop out your balance, transactions and anything else on the screen first.

Can someone steal money with just my account number?

On its own, an account number is used to send you money, not take it. It can still help scammers when combined with other details, so share it only with people you trust.

Should I keep screenshots of my banking app?

Only when there is a reason, such as proof of a payment. Keep them in a locked folder and delete them when they are no longer needed.

My bank asked for a screenshot of a code. What should I do?

Do not send it. Banks do not ask for one-time codes. Contact your bank using the number on your card or in its official app.