For many adult learners, online banking can feel overwhelming. Tutors can make learning about online banking not only understandable but also empowering. Helping learners master banking in the digital age builds independence, saves time, reduces fees, and opens access to safer and more efficient financial tools.
Whether your students are managing bills online for the first time or trying to understand how to use a banking app, your job is to make the learning process practical, patient, and pressure-free.
Start with the “Why”
Motivation matters. Many adult learners are more engaged when they understand how a skill helps them solve real problems.
Talk about everyday benefits:
- Pay rent or bills without waiting in line or paying extra for money orders
- Check balances anytime to avoid overdraft fees
- Get alerts before running out of funds
- Deposit checks without visiting a bank branch
- Send money to family quickly and affordably
Ask: “What money tasks do you find hard or time-consuming?” Then connect those to what digital banking can make easier.
Use Clear Language and Familiar Analogies
Avoid tech and finance jargon. Break concepts into plain language:
- Online banking: using the internet to manage your money
- App: a tool on your phone that helps you do something, like check your balance
- Password: a secret word to protect your money, like a key to a safe
Use analogies like:
- Your bank app is like a digital wallet you can open anytime
- A password is like the key to your front door—you wouldn’t share it with just anyone
Break It Into Small, Achievable Steps
Don’t try to teach everything at once. Give learners time to build confidence with one skill at a time. Consider a sequence like:
- How to connect to Wi-Fi
- How to download a bank’s official app
- How to create a username and password
- How to log in and check a balance
- How to review recent transactions
- How to set up low-balance alerts or autopay
- How to deposit a check using a phone
Provide handouts with step-by-step instructions and visual examples to help students gain confidence and retain information.
Teach Digital Safety and Scam Awareness
Fraud is a big concern for new tech users and good reason. Help learners protect themselves by covering:
- Never share passwords or PINs with anyone, even friends or family
- Use strong, memorable passwords, and never reuse them
- Ignore texts or calls that ask for personal info
- Only use official bank apps or websites—not links from messages
- Log out after using shared or public devices
Do activities like:
- Practice identifying fake messages (“Is this email real?”)
- Talk through what to do if something looks suspicious
- Share where to report scams (e.g., the bank, FTC, or local police)
Normalize Mistakes and Make It Safe to Ask Questions
Many learners feel embarrassed to ask for help with technology or banking. You can build confidence by:
- Creating a judgment-free environment
- Sharing that everyone had to learn this at some point
- Celebrating small wins
Mistakes are part of learning. Use them as teachable moments, not setbacks.
Incorporate Practice and Repetition
Adults retain digital skills better when they practice regularly.
- Let learners use their real bank apps in a guided session
- Assign mini-homework like “Check your balance once this week”
- Practice logging in, logging out, and navigating to different sections of the app
- Have learners teach each other or explain steps out loud to reinforce learning
Use Community Resources and Support Networks
You don’t have to teach digital banking alone. Help students connect with:
- Libraries: many offer free tech help or internet access
- Local banks and credit unions: may host beginner-friendly workshops
- Family or trusted friends: who can provide ongoing help
Encourage learners to build a support system for digital tasks—not everything has to be learned in one sitting.
Build a Digital Banking Starter Kit
Create a folder or binder for learners that includes:
- Step-by-step instructions with screenshots
- A password log sheet (kept in a safe place at home)
- A glossary of basic banking terms
- A scam checklist (what to avoid and what to report)
- A list of help numbers or websites for their bank
Encourage learners to keep it handy and add to it over time.
Final Thoughts
Teaching digital banking to adults who are new to tech is more than just teaching a tool—it’s building trust, independence, and confidence. For low-income and tech-wary learners, these skills can be life-changing. Go slow, use plain language, celebrate wins, and let students know you’re with them every step of the way.
With your support, they won’t just learn to use digital banking—they’ll feel empowered to take charge of their financial lives.
Resources
Most of the links lead to resources that are targeted at senior citizens but can be adapted and used for any adult student learning how to access online banking and other digital financial services like bill pay, payment apps, and budgeting tools.
National Coalition on Aging “Ready Set Bank” – this link leads to the toolkit download and other teaching resources. It also has instructions on how to hold a workshop to assist adult learners with online banking.
FDIC Money Smarts for Older Adults – This resource has guided lessons and teacher resources focusing on avoiding different financial scams.
Ready Set Bank! – This is the full course of videos helping adult learners become familiar with online banking. There are downloadable toolkits that accompany the courses and you can even register your nonprofit to access additional tools and resources
