Stay on budget — and on the go — with a mobile banking app

A good mobile banking app can help you work towards your goals, track your spending and see your full money picture.

Setting a budget is often easier than actually sticking to it. But if you use the right tools, you can spend within your means without feeling like it’s a chore. A handy tool is probably right under your nose: your bank’s mobile app.

A banking app keeps you in touch with your account balance and, possibly more importantly, it lets you see your spending habits. If you haven’t already downloaded one for your mobile device, you may be missing out on a great money management solution.

Here are three ways your mobile app may be able to help you reach your financial goals faster:

1. Track your spending: Use insights from your spending patterns to create a budget you can stick to. Some mobile apps allow you to set spending categories across all your accounts so that you can see where your money is going. In addition, apps with customized transaction and trend reports can show you how you’re doing compared to your goals. You can look at your spending week-over-week and month-over-month. For example, if you’re spending a bit more in one category this month and less in another, you can decide if that difference is OK, or if you need to adjust your spending. 
2. Create achievable goals: If your app has a goal setting feature, that’s a great way to stay focused on your saving plan. It’s even better if you can set up automatic transfers so you can send extra cash to your savings account each month to help you reach your goals faster. You can always adjust your transfer amount if your situation changes. 
3. Set up notifications: You can help yourself stay on top of your money with notifications that let you know when your balance drops below a certain level or when a withdrawal is made. Most apps will let you choose the types of notifications and whether you want to get them by email or text messages.
    

When deciding how to manage your money, a mobile banking app is a great way to ensure you’re sticking to the budget you’ve created. Not only can your banking app help you manage and track your spending, it’s secure and easy to use.

Learn about the U.S. Bank Mobile App and how it can help you manage your spending and saving needs.