Explainer: How BPI’s New App Update Boosts Your Mobile Banking Security

BPI has released version 13.1 of its mobile banking app, introducing new layers of protection against cyber threats.

The update, which became available at the end of July, enhances the app’s ability to detect unauthorized access, suspicious background activity, and potential interference from other apps.

These added security protocols may result in alerts or temporary access restrictions, especially for Android users with certain device settings or third-party apps.

One common alert, “device security compromised,” may appear if the app detects risky behavior or permissions that could threaten data integrity.

To avoid disruptions, users with antivirus apps that use full-screen overlays are advised to disable those permissions. This can be done by navigating to Settings, selecting the antivirus app, and turning off the overlay access.

Samsung users are encouraged to activate and use the built-in Secure Folder feature to isolate and launch the BPI app in a more protected environment.

This involves enabling Secure Folder via Settings, signing in with a Samsung account, and choosing a secure lock type before adding the BPI app inside.

Once setup is complete, the BPI app should be launched from within the Secure Folder after closing all other apps.

Fitzgerald Chee, BPI’s Head of Consumer Platforms, said the updates reflect the bank’s ongoing commitment to providing secure and seamless digital banking.

Clients are encouraged to update their app to the latest version and follow the recommended device settings to ensure uninterrupted and safe mobile transactions.