Mobile banking is an important service to Georgia consumers, according to a 2015 End-of-Year Survey conducted by Georgia Credit Union Affiliates.  
 
According to thefinancialbrand.com, there were .8 billion mobile banking users worldwide in 2014 and the number of users globally is forecast to grow to 1.8 billion over the next three years. That would mean more than 25 percent of the world's population will use mobile banking by 2019.
 
Eighty-five percent of survey respondents said their financial institution offers mobile banking and 74 percent of respondents said they utilize it - or would if it was offered.  The survey did reveal some skepticism from respondents about the safety of mobile banking. While 47 percent of respondents said they believe mobile banking is completely safe, 44 percent said they aren't sure if mobile banking is safe. Eight percent of respondents said they don't believe mobile banking is safe at all.
 
With mobile banking usage - and concerns about its security on the rise - there are safety measures consumers can take to protect themselves. According to www.usa.gov, consumers should protect their mobile banking app with a strong password, only access an account on a secure connection and take additional measures like utilizing GPS tracking apps to make sure their mobile device isn't lost or stolen.
 
Insider's Perspective:
 
"About 50 percent of our online banking users actively use our Mobile Suite," said Associated Credit Union Senior Online Banking Coordinator Arbenita Tafolli. "Our Mobile Suite consists of our mobile app, mobile check deposits and receiving value alerts."
 
Associated Credit Union Vice President of Marketing Tom Maiellaro said he feels mobile banking is important because consumers have real-time access to their personal financial information.  
 
"It's the baseline expectation among consumers these days," he said. "In order to remain relevant and keep members, financial institutions need to grow their mobile banking product and service portfolios to keep up with the current and future expectations of their membership. Mobile Banking is table-stakes for many consumers, and most importantly for the Millennials."
 
Maiellaro said mobile banking is such a new concept, even the definition is still being determined.
 
"We're just at the infancy stage of mobile banking," Maiellaro said.  "Many consumers don't know what they'll demand in the future, so it's time to start developing strategies and products that utilize these futuristic needs, such as the mobile wallet and robust mobile payments."
 
Maiellaro says mobile banking is a safe option, as financial institutions make data security a top priority.   Additionally, there are steps consumers can take to ensure the security of their mobile transactions.
 
Mobile Banking Safety Tips:

Password Protection. - When creating a password, make sure to use a combination of capital and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. If available, utilize biometrics authentication such as fingerprint scanning, iris scanning or voice recognition.  

Protect your PIN. - Your banking identity is more closely tied to your mobile device than your desktop or laptop. As such, only a user can access that device with a unique four-digit PIN or password, adding a layer of security at the outset. Memorize your PIN rather than write it down and make sure it's a unique number and not something simple like 1-2-3-4.

Safeguard Lost or Stolen Devices. - By using Apple's "Find My Device" or Android's "Lookout," users can recover missing mobile devices, as well as wipe them clean of all personal data before the information has been comprised. Certain features enable users to make their mobile devices ring, locate them on a map, lock them, or erase all of their personal and private data remotely from their browsers.    

Internet Safety.- Only access sensitive information such as mobile banking services or online purchases when on a secure/password-protected network.

Track your phone with Geolocation. - Global Positioning Satellite capabilities can track the whereabouts of a mobile device and alert both the consumer and their financial institution immediately of potential fraud, a service known as "Geolocation."