What is Strong Customer Authentication (SCA)?

Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) works to ensure that it is genuinely you whenever you log in or authorise payments while banking online. It is designed to help keep your financial information safe and make online banking even more secure.

SCA – what's it about?

When you are making an online payment – say, you’re buying something or paying a bill – we may ask you to confirm it is you using the card. The easiest way to do this, and to approve the payment from your account, is with the Bank of Ireland Mobile app, using Strong Customer Authentication (SCA). This system will fully replace the one-time passcodes sent to you by text message.

How will SCA work for me?

SCA is now live. The one-time passcodes that were being sent to you by text message for some online card payments are now replaced. This means, when you shop online and go to complete a transaction, you may need to authorize the transaction using an SCA compliant method. For most customers, this will mean receiving a notification to open the Bank of Ireland Mobile app and approve the transaction. If you don’t receive a notification, don’t worry. Open the BOI App within 45 seconds of making your purchase and the notification will appear on screen. If it doesn’t appear just tap Waiting for your approval (located below where you enter your 365 PIN). Swipe to enter 3 digits of your 6 digit 365 PIN. You can then return to the site you were purchasing from merchant site and select ‘I have approved in BOI App’ to complete your online purchase. For other customers (who will have a PSK) they will get a code from that device instead.