Best VPN for online banking in 2024

Online banking has revolutionized the way we deal with financial transactions. These days, almost every reputable bank offers a customized online portal which gives you an in-depth look at your account. Just like you would expect, online banking is built upon rigorous security measures. However, considering the sensitive nature of banking, it makes sense to add another layer of protection.

This is precisely where VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) come into play. These services have the power to secure your online connection and enable advanced security protocols, no matter where you are.

Here's what we expected of the best VPNs for online banking:

• Plenty of Servers: by offering a large number of servers, VPNs can host more users while maintaining a high level of performance.
• Robust Encryption: we're talking about the best VPN for online banking, which makes strong encryption of the highest importance.
• Bulletproof VPN Protocols: finally, every VPN comes with many VPN protocols that ensure the best possible protection.

No time to read? Check this short list of top 5 VPN's for banking:

1. NordVPN

   The best VPN for online banking
   9.8
2. Surfshark VPN

   Budget-friendly and powerful
   9.5
3. PrivateVPN

   Cheapest VPN for online banking
   8.7
4. VyprVPN

   Security-first VPN
   8.0
5. ExpressVPN

   One of the fastest VPNs for online banking
   8.4

1. NordVPN

You can often see NordVPN featured on the list of VPNs with the highest number of servers. That’s because its ever-expanding server network counts 7000+ units right now. This makes it the perfect choice for frequent travelers.

Aside from the standard set of features, NordVPN also has the ability to route your Web data through two servers. This means double encryption, deleting any trace of your online whereabouts. In terms of encryption, it employs AES-256 and plenty of VPN protocols – and it doesn’t collect any of your personal data.

For a deeper investigation of NordVPN, read our NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark VPN

A new provider on the VPN scene, Surfshark VPN is already a very solid option when it comes to such sensitive fields as online banking. The network offers 3200+ servers across 100+ countries with easy to use apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux plus Chrome and Firefox extensions. This means that even on public Wi-Fi it's easy to protect your connection.

The service doesn't compromise on the technical essentials with end-to-end AES-256 encryption, malware filters, and a kill switch to protect you if your connection drops. Surfshark also has its own private DNS on each server to reduce the chance of others spying on your activities. If you want to protect your Bitcoin wallet or safeguard your bank transactions, you can count on Surfshark.

For a deeper investigation of Surfshark VPN, read our Surfshark VPN review.

3. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN comes from Sweden and is one of the most user-friendly VPNs right now. What’s often praised about this one is its complete transparency and prowess against geo-blocking.

Having secure servers in close to 8.7 countries across the world, there’s plenty on offer here. You are free to use any of those, as many times as you want, all while sticking to the highest level of encryption. With a single click on a button, you can secure public Wi-Fi hotspots and prevent anyone from tracking what you do online. Among other features, PrivateVPN is also great for torrenting and offers great speeds.

For a deeper investigation of PrivateVPN, read our PrivateVPN review.

4. VyprVPN

Coming from Switzerland, VyprVPN is powered by its proprietary protocol named "Chameleon." It's believed that this protocol is more secure than what the majority of today's banks offer to their customers. In other words, forget about anyone taking advantage of your data.

With numerous servers on board, you can use VyprVPN to access them from any device. This VPN comes with a highly polished UI, suitable to beginners and more advanced users alike. And let’s not forget that you can count on blazing speeds – proven by numerous independent tests.

For a deeper investigation of VyprVPN, read our VyprVPN review.

5. ExpressVPN

Trust us when we say that ExpressVPN rightfully deserves a place on our list of the best VPNs for banking. This is a highly reputable VPN that scores high across the board.

With over 3000 servers on offer and high-end security features, this service is easily among the best VPN for online banking. It’s powered by 256-bit AES encryption, complemented by OpenVPN and a whole range of other protocols. You can use it across many platforms, so you're protected in your home as well as on the go. Finally, ExpressVPN comes with a stellar reputation for offering friendly and timely customer support.

For a deeper investigation of ExpressVPN, read our ExpressVPN review.

Security risks related to online banking

As helpful as it is, online banking also comes with a series of security issues. This especially applies to those who don’t take precautionary steps when accessing their bank accounts online. Let’s explain this more clearly by illustrating a few examples.

• When connecting to the Web from your home, you're using a secure network (if it's password-protected, of course). This means that you're the only one using your Web connection, which is an essential requirement for accessing online banking services. The biggest threat from this standpoint is a possible presence of viruses (that can hijack your data).
• When accessing the Web from a public wifi or via your smartphone, you're actually using a highly vulnerable network. Hackers can easily intercept your data, steal your credentials, download financial information, and endanger you in more ways than one.

As you can see, we need a solution that could secure any Web connection, no matter which device you use. You also want absolute freedom of connecting to the Web from any place. As you can imagine – this is precisely what VPNs are designed to do.

Why would you need a VPN for online banking?

VPNs are incredibly user-friendly and straightforward applications, compatible with computers, smartphones, tablets, and more. By using one, you can establish a highly secure Web connection, preventing anyone from reading or stealing your data.

Here's how VPNs work:

1. Upon launching a VPN, you’ll get to select a secure VPN server. Clicking on one will connect you to that server;
2. Once the connection is established, all your data becomes encrypted immediately. In other words, it gets hidden from anyone else on the Web. And also, even if someone manages to steal your data (which is highly unlikely to happen), they won’t be able to open or read a single file (since it’s encrypted, or differently said - scrambled).
3. Now, you can feel free to access your online banking account. Any information you send and receive remains hidden while the session is in progress.
4. That’s it! Online banking is only one of the numerous use-cases of VPNs. You can use them every time you connect to the Web to secure your connection and keep dangerous malware, hackers, and other threats at bay.

Is it safe to use a free VPN for online banking?

Before making our recommendations, we have something important to tell you. We strongly recommend avoiding free VPNs! These may not only leave you vulnerable to hacking attempts, but they can take advantage of your personal data.

In general, free VPNs are associated with marketing agencies. They either serve ads or purposely collect your data to allow their partners to gather valuable insight. Also, these can't be compared to commercial VPNs in terms of encryption and VPN protocols. And most importantly – all of them come with severe limitations in terms of bandwidth and performance.

What else can you do? Additional tips & tricks

Before we let you go, we’d like to share some valuable tips on using online banking in a safe way. Taking advantage of a VPN for banking is the first step, but there’s more you need to know.

• Make sure to stick to websites beginning with “HTTPS.” Every online banking system should support this protocol, which means that it encrypts your data. Of course, using a VPN in addition is still better.
• Come up with strong passwords. Don’t make a mistake by using the same password across all your accounts. If you can’t come up with anything unique, there are plenty of capable password managers that’ll do the job for you.
• Utilize antivirus software on your computer. Even though VPNs will prevent any hacking attempt, it's imperative to use antivirus to remove any malicious files, applications, or scripts. Even free-of-charge options will do the job.