What to Do if Your Bank Account is Hacked

Most people have a looming fear in the back of their mind regarding the safety of their bank account. Every year more virus and malware programs are written with the intent of stealing bank and credit card information from honest people.

 If your bank account is hacked, immediately notify your financial institution to freeze the account and prevent further unauthorized transactions. Following the report, change all associated passwords, enable multi-factor authentication (MFA), and file an official identity theft report with the FTC.

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In this article, I will be focusing on how to regain control of your bank account and get back any money that was stolen from you.

What to Do if Your Card Number is Stolen

If you notice strange activity on your credit card or in your bank account, notify your bank straight away. It should be noted that you are responsible for your account, not the bank, so make sure to check the account often to ensure everything is in order.

The first thing that will happen is that the bank will put a freeze on your account so that whoever is stealing from you cannot access any more of your money. Federal law protects consumers from any charges made after a card has been reported stolen or lost, so report it as soon as possible.

The bank will then issue you a new temporary card, immediately if you went to your local branch in person, and mail you a replacement permanent card. Most banks will refund you your lost money after you sign some forms saying that you had nothing to do with the theft.

If it was just one card that you lost you could be in the clear, but if your wallet was stolen then you may want to take some additional steps to secure your credit.

Current Security Landscape:

• Recent 2025-2026 data shows that while stolen credit card records on the dark web dropped by 20%, “Account Takeover” (ATO) attacks rose as fraudsters used AI-generated phishing to bypass traditional security.
• In 2025 alone, over 23 million online transactions were compromised globally through sophisticated skimming and banking hacks.

What to Do if You Are a Victim of Identity Theft

If you believe that you are a victim of Identity Theft then you should call TransUnion immediately and alert them of the fraud. 

Fraud Alert: Placing a fraud alert requires lenders to verify your identity before opening new accounts.

Credit Freeze: For maximum protection, a credit freeze stops any new creditors from accessing your report.

Review Reports: Once an alert is in place, you are entitled to a free credit report. Scan it for accounts you don’t recognize.

How to Protect Your Bank Account From Future Fraud

If your account had in fact been tampered with you should protect yourself against future account fraud. The way to do this is by going to the Federal Trade Commission’s website and getting a statement proving that your identity was stolen.

Steps to secure your future:

1. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Use an app-based authenticator rather than SMS codes, which can be intercepted.
2. Update passwords: Use a reputable password manager to create unique, 16+ character passwords for every financial site.
3. Shred sensitive documents: Shred any mail with account numbers or personal details before discarding.
4. Avoid public Wi-Fi: Never log into your bank account on public networks; use a VPN or your phone’s mobile hotspot instead.
5. Set transaction alerts: Configure your banking app to send a push notification for every transaction over a specific dollar amount.
6. Update software: Keep your phone and computer operating systems updated to patch security vulnerabilities.

Final Thoughts

The best way to prevent further thefts is to always keep track of charges made to your cards. PocketGuard helps you to keep track of where your money is going day-by-day and transaction-by-transaction across all your accounts. This helps you spot unauthorized transactions and take appropriate action.

Even when you are not actively checking your accounts, PocketGuard can automatically track your expenses and send you email alerts when it detects suspicious activity. This helps you feel safe that your accounts are secure.

FAQ

Will I get my money back if my bank account is hacked?

Most banks offer “zero liability” policies for unauthorized transactions if reported promptly. Under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, your liability is limited if you notify the bank within two business days of discovering the error.

How do hackers get into bank accounts?

The most common methods in 2026 include “credential stuffing” (using passwords leaked from other site breaches) and AI-powered phishing emails that look identical to official bank communications.

Does a bank freeze affect my credit score?

No. Freezing your bank account or placing a fraud alert on your credit report has no impact on your credit score. It only prevents unauthorized access to your data.

Featured image credit: FOTER